fdf340
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package org.springframework.core.type.classreading;
 
+import java.lang.annotation.Annotation;
 import java.lang.reflect.Array;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -82,6 +83,20 @@
class RecursiveAnnotationArrayVisitor extends AbstractRecursiveAnnotationVisitor
 		if (!this.allNestedAttributes.isEmpty()) {
 			this.attributes.put(this.attributeName, this.allNestedAttributes.toArray(new AnnotationAttributes[0]));
 		}
+		else if (!this.attributes.containsKey(this.attributeName)) {
+			Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType = this.attributes.annotationType();
+			if (annotationType != null) {
+				try {
+					Class<?> attributeType = annotationType.getMethod(this.attributeName).getReturnType();
+					if (attributeType.isArray()) {
+						this.attributes.put(this.attributeName, Array.newInstance(attributeType.getComponentType(), 0));
+					}
+				}
+				catch (NoSuchMethodException ex) {
+					// Corresponding attribute method not found: cannot expose empty array.
+				}
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 }
