Hola campers! SpringJUnit4ClassRunner, createTest() contains this code (sans comment): final Object testInstance = super.createTest(); try { getTestContextManager().prepareTestInstance(testInstance); } catch (Throwable t) { new Exception(t); // <--------------- eh? } return testInstance; The line 'new Exception(t)' needs to be 'throw new Exception(t);' (At least I think it does.) Cheers Rick