diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/TypeConverterDelegate.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/TypeConverterDelegate.java
index 7de77d5e10d..9b47e794439 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/TypeConverterDelegate.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/TypeConverterDelegate.java
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class TypeConverterDelegate {
 					return (T) convertedValue.toString();
 				}
 				else if (convertedValue instanceof String && !requiredType.isInstance(convertedValue)) {
-					if (!requiredType.isInterface() && !requiredType.isEnum()) {
+					if (firstAttemptEx == null && !requiredType.isInterface() && !requiredType.isEnum()) {
 						try {
 							Constructor strCtor = requiredType.getConstructor(String.class);
 							return (T) BeanUtils.instantiateClass(strCtor, convertedValue);
@@ -237,7 +237,6 @@ class TypeConverterDelegate {
 						// It's an empty enum identifier: reset the enum value to null.
 						return null;
 					}
-					
 					convertedValue = attemptToConvertStringToEnum(requiredType, trimmedValue, convertedValue);
 					standardConversion = true;
 				}
diff --git a/spring-context/src/test/java/org/springframework/format/datetime/joda/JodaTimeFormattingTests.java b/spring-context/src/test/java/org/springframework/format/datetime/joda/JodaTimeFormattingTests.java
index 9c4f6837aae..ca7a926f9af 100644
--- a/spring-context/src/test/java/org/springframework/format/datetime/joda/JodaTimeFormattingTests.java
+++ b/spring-context/src/test/java/org/springframework/format/datetime/joda/JodaTimeFormattingTests.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2011 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2012 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.
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 
 package org.springframework.format.datetime.joda;
 
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
-
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Calendar;
 import java.util.Date;
@@ -34,6 +32,7 @@ import org.joda.time.MutableDateTime;
 import org.junit.After;
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
+
 import org.springframework.beans.MutablePropertyValues;
 import org.springframework.context.i18n.LocaleContextHolder;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.support.DefaultConversionService;
@@ -42,6 +41,8 @@ import org.springframework.format.annotation.DateTimeFormat.ISO;
 import org.springframework.format.support.FormattingConversionService;
 import org.springframework.validation.DataBinder;
 
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+
 /**
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @author Juergen Hoeller
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ public class JodaTimeFormattingTests {
 	@Test
 	public void testBindLocalDateArray() {
 		MutablePropertyValues propertyValues = new MutablePropertyValues();
-		propertyValues.add("localDate", new String[] {"10/31/09"});
+		propertyValues.add("localDate", new String[]{"10/31/09"});
 		binder.bind(propertyValues);
 		assertEquals(0, binder.getBindingResult().getErrorCount());
 	}
@@ -240,6 +241,24 @@ public class JodaTimeFormattingTests {
 		assertEquals("10/31/09 12:00 PM", binder.getBindingResult().getFieldValue("date"));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testBindDateWithErrorAvoidingDateConstructor() {
+		MutablePropertyValues propertyValues = new MutablePropertyValues();
+		propertyValues.add("date", "Sat, 12 Aug 1995 13:30:00 GMT");
+		binder.bind(propertyValues);
+		assertEquals(1, binder.getBindingResult().getErrorCount());
+		assertEquals("Sat, 12 Aug 1995 13:30:00 GMT", binder.getBindingResult().getFieldValue("date"));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testBindDateWithoutErrorFallingBackToDateConstructor() {
+		DataBinder binder = new DataBinder(new JodaTimeBean());
+		MutablePropertyValues propertyValues = new MutablePropertyValues();
+		propertyValues.add("date", "Sat, 12 Aug 1995 13:30:00 GMT");
+		binder.bind(propertyValues);
+		assertEquals(0, binder.getBindingResult().getErrorCount());
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testBindDateAnnotated() {
 		MutablePropertyValues propertyValues = new MutablePropertyValues();