diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/retry/RetryOperations.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/retry/RetryOperations.java
index c72c6f05e84..45d99c7e5c1 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/retry/RetryOperations.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/retry/RetryOperations.java
@@ -41,6 +41,6 @@ public interface RetryOperations {
 	 * encountered during retry attempts should be made available as suppressed
 	 * exceptions
 	 */
-	<R extends @Nullable Object> R execute(Retryable<R> retryable) throws RetryException;
+	<R> @Nullable R execute(Retryable<? extends @Nullable R> retryable) throws RetryException;
 
 }
diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/retry/RetryTemplate.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/retry/RetryTemplate.java
index 40cca6a2647..04e6da98123 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/retry/RetryTemplate.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/retry/RetryTemplate.java
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ public class RetryTemplate implements RetryOperations {
 	 * encountered during retry attempts are available as suppressed exceptions
 	 */
 	@Override
-	public <R extends @Nullable Object> R execute(Retryable<R> retryable) throws RetryException {
+	public <R> @Nullable R execute(Retryable<? extends @Nullable R> retryable) throws RetryException {
 		String retryableName = retryable.getName();
 		// Initial attempt
 		try {