diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/infrastructure/item/database/StoredProcedureItemReader.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/infrastructure/item/database/StoredProcedureItemReader.java
index 57ba1bd213..5adc6d350f 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/infrastructure/item/database/StoredProcedureItemReader.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/infrastructure/item/database/StoredProcedureItemReader.java
@@ -157,8 +157,6 @@ public void setRefCursorPosition(int refCursorPosition) {
 	protected void openCursor(Connection con) {
 		Assert.state(refCursorPosition >= 0, "invalid refCursorPosition specified as " + refCursorPosition
 				+ "; it can't be " + "specified as a negative number.");
-		Assert.state(refCursorPosition == 0 || refCursorPosition > 0, "invalid refCursorPosition specified as "
-				+ refCursorPosition + "; there are " + parameters.length + " parameters defined.");
 
 		CallMetaDataContext callContext = new CallMetaDataContext();
 		callContext.setAccessCallParameterMetaData(false);