diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
index 6f5a392c6a6..af53e75b40d 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/support/AbstractBeanFactory.java
@@ -300,7 +300,13 @@ public abstract class AbstractBeanFactory extends FactoryBeanRegistrySupport imp
 									"Circular depends-on relationship between '" + beanName + "' and '" + dep + "'");
 						}
 						registerDependentBean(dep, beanName);
-						getBean(dep);
+						try {
+							getBean(dep);
+						}
+						catch (NoSuchBeanDefinitionException ex) {
+							throw new BeanCreationException(mbd.getResourceDescription(), beanName,
+									"'" + beanName + "' depends on missing bean '" + dep + "'", ex);
+						}
 					}
 				}