diff --git a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/FrameworkServlet.java b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/FrameworkServlet.java
index 8f2a98cd47..6b7b00d311 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/FrameworkServlet.java
+++ b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/FrameworkServlet.java
@@ -445,6 +445,20 @@ public abstract class FrameworkServlet extends HttpServletBean
 		return wac;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Instantiate the WebApplicationContext for this servlet, either a default
+	 * {@link org.springframework.web.context.support.XmlWebApplicationContext}
+	 * or a {@link #setContextClass custom context class}, if set.
+	 * Delegates to #createWebApplicationContext(ApplicationContext).
+	 * @param parent the parent WebApplicationContext to use, or <code>null</code> if none
+	 * @return the WebApplicationContext for this servlet
+	 * @see org.springframework.web.context.support.XmlWebApplicationContext
+	 * @see #createWebApplicationContext(ApplicationContext)
+	 */
+	protected WebApplicationContext createWebApplicationContext(WebApplicationContext parent) {
+		return createWebApplicationContext((ApplicationContext) parent);
+	}
+	
 	/**
 	 * Post-process the given WebApplicationContext before it is refreshed
 	 * and activated as context for this servlet.