diff --git a/spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/condition/RequestMethodsRequestCondition.java b/spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/condition/RequestMethodsRequestCondition.java
index a8f67d3a581..b0dd93d795b 100644
--- a/spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/condition/RequestMethodsRequestCondition.java
+++ b/spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/condition/RequestMethodsRequestCondition.java
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ import org.springframework.web.cors.CorsUtils;
  */
 public final class RequestMethodsRequestCondition extends AbstractRequestCondition<RequestMethodsRequestCondition> {
 
-	private static final RequestMethodsRequestCondition HEAD_CONDITION =
-			new RequestMethodsRequestCondition(RequestMethod.HEAD);
+	private static final RequestMethodsRequestCondition GET_CONDITION =
+			new RequestMethodsRequestCondition(RequestMethod.GET);
 
 
 	private final Set<RequestMethod> methods;
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ public final class RequestMethodsRequestCondition extends AbstractRequestConditi
 				}
 			}
 			if (httpMethod == HttpMethod.HEAD && getMethods().contains(RequestMethod.GET)) {
-				return HEAD_CONDITION;
+				return GET_CONDITION;
 			}
 		}
 		return null;
@@ -159,7 +159,18 @@ public final class RequestMethodsRequestCondition extends AbstractRequestConditi
 	 */
 	@Override
 	public int compareTo(RequestMethodsRequestCondition other, HttpServletRequest request) {
-		return (other.methods.size() - this.methods.size());
+		if (other.methods.size() != this.methods.size()) {
+			return other.methods.size() - this.methods.size();
+		}
+		else if (this.methods.size() == 1) {
+			if (this.methods.contains(RequestMethod.HEAD) && other.methods.contains(RequestMethod.GET)) {
+				return -1;
+			}
+			else if (this.methods.contains(RequestMethod.GET) && other.methods.contains(RequestMethod.HEAD)) {
+				return 1;
+			}
+		}
+		return 0;
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/condition/RequestMethodsRequestConditionTests.java b/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/condition/RequestMethodsRequestConditionTests.java
index 10503065c2b..df336a3c32e 100644
--- a/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/condition/RequestMethodsRequestConditionTests.java
+++ b/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/condition/RequestMethodsRequestConditionTests.java
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public class RequestMethodsRequestConditionTests {
 	@Test
 	public void getMatchingConditionWithHttpHead() {
 		testMatch(new RequestMethodsRequestCondition(HEAD), HEAD);
-		testMatch(new RequestMethodsRequestCondition(GET), HEAD);
+		testMatch(new RequestMethodsRequestCondition(GET), GET);
 		testNoMatch(new RequestMethodsRequestCondition(POST), HEAD);
 	}
 
diff --git a/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletAnnotationControllerHandlerMethodTests.java b/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletAnnotationControllerHandlerMethodTests.java
index 24d9ea2c05e..48163090a75 100644
--- a/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletAnnotationControllerHandlerMethodTests.java
+++ b/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletAnnotationControllerHandlerMethodTests.java
@@ -1776,6 +1776,18 @@ public class ServletAnnotationControllerHandlerMethodTests extends AbstractServl
 		assertEquals("body", response.getContentAsString());
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void httpHeadExplicit() throws ServletException, IOException {
+		initServletWithControllers(ResponseEntityController.class);
+
+		MockHttpServletRequest request = new MockHttpServletRequest("HEAD", "/stores");
+		MockHttpServletResponse response = new MockHttpServletResponse();
+		getServlet().service(request, response);
+
+		assertEquals(200, response.getStatus());
+		assertEquals("v1", response.getHeader("h1"));
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void httpOptions() throws ServletException, IOException {
 		initServletWithControllers(ResponseEntityController.class);
@@ -3100,6 +3112,16 @@ public class ServletAnnotationControllerHandlerMethodTests extends AbstractServl
 		public ResponseEntity<String> baz() {
 			return ResponseEntity.ok().header("MyResponseHeader", "MyValue").body("body");
 		}
+
+		@RequestMapping(path = "/stores", method = RequestMethod.HEAD)
+		public ResponseEntity<Void> headResource() {
+			return ResponseEntity.ok().header("h1", "v1").build();
+		}
+
+		@RequestMapping(path = "/stores", method = RequestMethod.GET)
+		public ResponseEntity<String> getResource() {
+			return ResponseEntity.ok().body("body");
+		}
 	}
 
 	@Controller