diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/config/AutowireCapableBeanFactory.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/config/AutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
index e71eb1a899..003ab7e2ce 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/config/AutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/config/AutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2012 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2013 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -302,6 +302,16 @@ public interface AutowireCapableBeanFactory extends BeanFactory {
 	Object applyBeanPostProcessorsAfterInitialization(Object existingBean, String beanName)
 			throws BeansException;
 
+	/**
+	 * Destroy the given bean instance (typically coming from {@link #createBean}),
+	 * applying the {@link org.springframework.beans.factory.DisposableBean} contract as well as
+	 * registered {@link DestructionAwareBeanPostProcessor DestructionAwareBeanPostProcessors}.
+	 * <p>Any exception that arises during destruction should be caught
+	 * and logged instead of propagated to the caller of this method.
+	 * @param existingBean the bean instance to destroy
+	 */
+	void destroyBean(Object existingBean);
+
 	/**
 	 * Resolve the specified dependency against the beans defined in this factory.
 	 * @param descriptor the descriptor for the dependency
diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
index 09faf0c3b2..b589b1a6c6 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory.java
@@ -417,6 +417,10 @@ public abstract class AbstractAutowireCapableBeanFactory extends AbstractBeanFac
 		return result;
 	}
 
+	public void destroyBean(Object existingBean) {
+		new DisposableBeanAdapter(existingBean, getBeanPostProcessors(), getAccessControlContext()).destroy();
+	}
+
 
 	//---------------------------------------------------------------------
 	// Implementation of relevant AbstractBeanFactory template methods
diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/DisposableBeanAdapter.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/DisposableBeanAdapter.java
index 6a498344a9..672c892431 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/DisposableBeanAdapter.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/DisposableBeanAdapter.java
@@ -85,14 +85,14 @@ class DisposableBeanAdapter implements DisposableBean, Runnable, Serializable {
 
 	private final boolean nonPublicAccessAllowed;
 
+	private final AccessControlContext acc;
+
 	private String destroyMethodName;
 
 	private transient Method destroyMethod;
 
 	private List<DestructionAwareBeanPostProcessor> beanPostProcessors;
 
-	private final AccessControlContext acc;
-
 
 	/**
 	 * Create a new DisposableBeanAdapter for the given bean.
@@ -138,6 +138,22 @@ class DisposableBeanAdapter implements DisposableBean, Runnable, Serializable {
 		this.beanPostProcessors = filterPostProcessors(postProcessors);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Create a new DisposableBeanAdapter for the given bean.
+	 * @param bean the bean instance (never {@code null})
+	 * @param postProcessors the List of BeanPostProcessors
+	 * (potentially DestructionAwareBeanPostProcessor), if any
+	 */
+	public DisposableBeanAdapter(Object bean, List<BeanPostProcessor> postProcessors, AccessControlContext acc) {
+		Assert.notNull(bean, "Disposable bean must not be null");
+		this.bean = bean;
+		this.beanName = null;
+		this.invokeDisposableBean = (this.bean instanceof DisposableBean);
+		this.nonPublicAccessAllowed = true;
+		this.acc = acc;
+		this.beanPostProcessors = filterPostProcessors(postProcessors);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Create a new DisposableBeanAdapter for the given bean.
 	 */
@@ -149,9 +165,9 @@ class DisposableBeanAdapter implements DisposableBean, Runnable, Serializable {
 		this.beanName = beanName;
 		this.invokeDisposableBean = invokeDisposableBean;
 		this.nonPublicAccessAllowed = nonPublicAccessAllowed;
+		this.acc = null;
 		this.destroyMethodName = destroyMethodName;
 		this.beanPostProcessors = postProcessors;
-		this.acc = null;
 	}
 
 
diff --git a/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/DefaultListableBeanFactoryTests.java b/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/DefaultListableBeanFactoryTests.java
index 73c2ab592a..9197e0083e 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/DefaultListableBeanFactoryTests.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/DefaultListableBeanFactoryTests.java
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ import java.util.Locale;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Properties;
 import java.util.Set;
-
 import javax.security.auth.Subject;
 
 import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
@@ -41,6 +40,7 @@ import org.junit.Ignore;
 import org.junit.Rule;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException;
+
 import org.springframework.beans.BeansException;
 import org.springframework.beans.MutablePropertyValues;
 import org.springframework.beans.NotWritablePropertyException;
@@ -1552,6 +1552,23 @@ public class DefaultListableBeanFactoryTests {
 		assertNull(tb.getSpouse());
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testCreateBean() {
+		DefaultListableBeanFactory lbf = new DefaultListableBeanFactory();
+		TestBean tb = lbf.createBean(TestBean.class);
+		assertSame(lbf, tb.getBeanFactory());
+		lbf.destroyBean(tb);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testCreateBeanWithDisposableBean() {
+		DefaultListableBeanFactory lbf = new DefaultListableBeanFactory();
+		DerivedTestBean tb = lbf.createBean(DerivedTestBean.class);
+		assertSame(lbf, tb.getBeanFactory());
+		lbf.destroyBean(tb);
+		assertTrue(tb.wasDestroyed());
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testConfigureBean() {
 		DefaultListableBeanFactory lbf = new DefaultListableBeanFactory();