diff --git a/spring-test-mvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/result/HeaderResultMatchers.java b/spring-test-mvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/result/HeaderResultMatchers.java
index 0fef4e43fd5..5b2dd9454c4 100644
--- a/spring-test-mvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/result/HeaderResultMatchers.java
+++ b/spring-test-mvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/result/HeaderResultMatchers.java
@@ -16,14 +16,13 @@
 
 package org.springframework.test.web.servlet.result;
 
-import static org.springframework.test.util.AssertionErrors.assertEquals;
-import static org.springframework.test.util.AssertionErrors.assertTrue;
-import static org.springframework.test.util.MatcherAssertionErrors.assertThat;
-
 import org.hamcrest.Matcher;
 import org.springframework.test.web.servlet.MvcResult;
 import org.springframework.test.web.servlet.ResultMatcher;
 
+import static org.springframework.test.util.AssertionErrors.*;
+import static org.springframework.test.util.MatcherAssertionErrors.*;
+
 /**
  * Factory for response header assertions. An instance of this
  * class is usually accessed via {@link MockMvcResultMatchers#header()}.
@@ -69,6 +68,20 @@ public class HeaderResultMatchers {
 		};
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Assert that the named response header does not exist.
+	 * @since 4.0
+	 */
+	public ResultMatcher doesNotExist(final String name) {
+		return new ResultMatcher() {
+
+			@Override
+			public void match(MvcResult result) {
+				assertTrue("Response should not contain header " + name, !result.getResponse().containsHeader(name));
+			}
+		};
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Assert the primary value of the named response header as a {@code long}.
 	 *
diff --git a/spring-test-mvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/samples/standalone/resultmatchers/HeaderAssertionTests.java b/spring-test-mvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/samples/standalone/resultmatchers/HeaderAssertionTests.java
index 1a3f56771c1..df5aacef9ce 100644
--- a/spring-test-mvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/samples/standalone/resultmatchers/HeaderAssertionTests.java
+++ b/spring-test-mvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/test/web/servlet/samples/standalone/resultmatchers/HeaderAssertionTests.java
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ import static org.springframework.test.web.servlet.setup.MockMvcBuilders.*;
 
 /**
  * Examples of expectations on response header values.
- * 
+ *
  * @author Rossen Stoyanchev
  * @author Sam Brannen
  */
@@ -110,6 +110,22 @@ public class HeaderAssertionTests {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// SPR-10771
+
+	@Test
+	public void doesNotExist() throws Exception {
+		this.mockMvc.perform(get("/persons/1"))
+				.andExpect(header().doesNotExist("X-Custom-Header"));
+	}
+
+	// SPR-10771
+
+	@Test(expected = AssertionError.class)
+	public void doesNotExistFail() throws Exception {
+		this.mockMvc.perform(get("/persons/1"))
+				.andExpect(header().doesNotExist(LAST_MODIFIED));
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void stringWithIncorrectResponseHeaderValue() throws Exception {
 		long unexpected = currentTime + 1;