diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/BeanWrapperImpl.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/BeanWrapperImpl.java
index 95d79fe711d..76af626a73d 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/BeanWrapperImpl.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/BeanWrapperImpl.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 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.
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
  * @author Rod Johnson
  * @author Juergen Hoeller
  * @author Rob Harrop
+ * @author Stephane Nicoll
  * @since 15 April 2001
  * @see #registerCustomEditor
  * @see #setPropertyValues
@@ -978,6 +979,14 @@ public class BeanWrapperImpl extends AbstractPropertyAccessor implements BeanWra
 					}
 					Object convertedValue = convertIfNecessary(propertyName, oldValue, pv.getValue(),
 							requiredType, TypeDescriptor.nested(property(pd), tokens.keys.length));
+					int length = Array.getLength(propValue);
+					if (arrayIndex >= length && arrayIndex < this.autoGrowCollectionLimit) {
+						Class<?> componentType = propValue.getClass().getComponentType();
+						Object newArray = Array.newInstance(componentType, arrayIndex + 1);
+						System.arraycopy(propValue, 0, newArray, 0, length);
+						setPropertyValue(actualName, newArray);
+						propValue = getPropertyValue(actualName);
+					}
 					Array.set(propValue, arrayIndex, convertedValue);
 				}
 				catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException ex) {
diff --git a/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/BeanWrapperTests.java b/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/BeanWrapperTests.java
index 895ffd38933..ccd56d0e46e 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/BeanWrapperTests.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/test/java/org/springframework/beans/BeanWrapperTests.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2014 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2015 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.
@@ -518,6 +518,36 @@ public final class BeanWrapperTests extends AbstractConfigurablePropertyAccessor
 		assertTrue("correct values", pt.stringArray[0].equals("a1") && pt.stringArray[1].equals("b2"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testStringArrayAutoGrow() throws Exception {
+		StringArrayBean target = new StringArrayBean();
+		BeanWrapper bw = new BeanWrapperImpl(target);
+		bw.setAutoGrowNestedPaths(true);
+
+		bw.setPropertyValue("array[0]", "Test0");
+		assertEquals(1, target.getArray().length);
+
+		bw.setPropertyValue("array[2]", "Test2");
+		assertEquals(3, target.getArray().length);
+		assertTrue("correct values", target.getArray()[0].equals("Test0") && target.getArray()[1] == null &&
+				target.getArray()[2].equals("Test2"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testPrimitiveArrayAutoGrow() throws Exception {
+		PrimitiveArrayBean target = new PrimitiveArrayBean();
+		BeanWrapper bw = new BeanWrapperImpl(target);
+		bw.setAutoGrowNestedPaths(true);
+
+		bw.setPropertyValue("array[0]", 1);
+		assertEquals(1, target.getArray().length);
+
+		bw.setPropertyValue("array[2]", 3);
+		assertEquals(3, target.getArray().length);
+		assertTrue("correct values", target.getArray()[0] == 1 && target.getArray()[1] == 0 &&
+				target.getArray()[2] == 3);
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testStringPropertyWithCustomEditor() throws Exception {
 		TestBean tb = new TestBean();
@@ -1723,6 +1753,20 @@ public final class BeanWrapperTests extends AbstractConfigurablePropertyAccessor
 		}
 	}
 
+	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
+	private static class StringArrayBean {
+
+		private String[] array;
+
+		public String[] getArray() {
+			return array;
+		}
+
+		public void setArray(String[] array) {
+			this.array = array;
+		}
+	}
+
 
 	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
 	private static class NumberPropertyBean {