diff --git a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/InjectionMetadata.java b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/InjectionMetadata.java
index 1d1fbd77cb72..bd275ea52945 100644
--- a/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/InjectionMetadata.java
+++ b/spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/InjectionMetadata.java
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ public static InjectionMetadata forElements(Collection<InjectedElement> elements
 	 * @return {@code true} indicating a refresh, {@code false} otherwise
 	 */
 	public static boolean needsRefresh(@Nullable InjectionMetadata metadata, Class<?> clazz) {
+		if (metadata == EMPTY) {
+			return false;
+		}
 		return (metadata == null || metadata.targetClass != clazz);
 	}