diff --git a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestKey.java b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestKey.java
index 7e45971829..16158fe8d2 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestKey.java
+++ b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestKey.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
 
 import org.springframework.util.PathMatcher;
+import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RequestMapping;
 import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RequestMethod;
 import org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.condition.RequestCondition;
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ public final class RequestKey {
 		}
 		Set<String> result = new LinkedHashSet<String>(patterns.size());
 		for (String pattern : patterns) {
-			if (!pattern.startsWith("/")) {
+			if (StringUtils.hasLength(pattern) && !pattern.startsWith("/")) {
 				pattern = "/" + pattern;
 			}
 			result.add(pattern);
@@ -169,9 +170,9 @@ public final class RequestKey {
 	 * <ul>
 	 * <li>URL patterns:
 	 * 	<ul>
-	 * 	  <li>If both keys have path patterns combine them according to the rules of the given {@link PathMatcher}.
-	 * 	  <li>If either key contains path patterns but not both use only what is available.
-	 * 	  <li>If neither key contains path patterns use "/".
+	 * 	  <li>If both have patterns combine them according to the rules of the given {@link PathMatcher}
+	 * 	  <li>If either contains patterns, but not both, use the available pattern
+	 * 	  <li>If neither contains patterns use ""
 	 * 	</ul>
 	 * <li>HTTP methods are combined as union of all HTTP methods listed in both keys.
 	 * <li>Request parameter are combined into a logical AND.
@@ -198,8 +199,8 @@ public final class RequestKey {
 		Set<String> result = new LinkedHashSet<String>();
 		if (!typePatterns.isEmpty() && !methodPatterns.isEmpty()) {
 			for (String pattern1 : typePatterns) {
-				for (String p2 : methodPatterns) {
-					result.add(pathMatcher.combine(pattern1, p2));
+				for (String pattern2 : methodPatterns) {
+					result.add(pathMatcher.combine(pattern1, pattern2));
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletInvocableHandlerMethod.java b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletInvocableHandlerMethod.java
index fc920b9c4c..2145491651 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletInvocableHandlerMethod.java
+++ b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletInvocableHandlerMethod.java
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ public class ServletInvocableHandlerMethod extends InvocableHandlerMethod {
 				webRequest.getResponse().sendError(this.responseStatus.value(), this.responseReason);
 			}
 			else {
-				webRequest.getResponse().sendError(this.responseStatus.value());
+				webRequest.getResponse().setStatus(this.responseStatus.value());
 			}
 
 			// to be picked up by the RedirectView
diff --git a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestKeyTests.java b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestKeyTests.java
index 18f39a3e09..fbe16149d2 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestKeyTests.java
+++ b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestKeyTests.java
@@ -77,9 +77,13 @@ public class RequestKeyTests {
 
 		key1 = createKeyFromPatterns();
 		key2 = createKeyFromPatterns();
-		key3 = createKeyFromPatterns("/");
+		key3 = createKeyFromPatterns("");
+		assertEquals(key3.getPatterns(), key1.combine(key2, pathMatcher).getPatterns());
+
+		key1 = createKeyFromPatterns("/t1");
+		key2 = createKeyFromPatterns("");
+		key3 = createKeyFromPatterns("/t1");
 		assertEquals(key3.getPatterns(), key1.combine(key2, pathMatcher).getPatterns());
-	
 	}
 	
 	@Test
diff --git a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestMappingHandlerMethodMappingTests.java b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestMappingHandlerMethodMappingTests.java
index 2fcbd3f455..dc24f57000 100644
--- a/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestMappingHandlerMethodMappingTests.java
+++ b/org.springframework.web.servlet/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/RequestMappingHandlerMethodMappingTests.java
@@ -60,12 +60,15 @@ public class RequestMappingHandlerMethodMappingTests {
 
 	private HandlerMethod barMethod;
 
+	private HandlerMethod emptyMethod;
+
 	@Before
 	public void setUp() throws Exception {
 		handler = new Handler();
 		fooMethod = new HandlerMethod(handler, "foo");
 		fooParamMethod = new HandlerMethod(handler, "fooParam");
 		barMethod = new HandlerMethod(handler, "bar");
+		emptyMethod = new HandlerMethod(handler, "empty");
 
 		StaticApplicationContext context = new StaticApplicationContext();
 		context.registerSingleton("handler", handler.getClass());
@@ -88,6 +91,17 @@ public class RequestMappingHandlerMethodMappingTests {
 		assertEquals(barMethod.getMethod(), hm.getMethod());
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void emptyPathMatch() throws Exception {
+		MockHttpServletRequest request = new MockHttpServletRequest("GET", "");
+		HandlerMethod hm = (HandlerMethod) mapping.getHandler(request).getHandler();
+		assertEquals(emptyMethod.getMethod(), hm.getMethod());
+
+		request = new MockHttpServletRequest("GET", "/");
+		hm = (HandlerMethod) mapping.getHandler(request).getHandler();
+		assertEquals(emptyMethod.getMethod(), hm.getMethod());
+	}
+
 	// TODO: SPR-8247
 	@Ignore
 	@Test
@@ -144,6 +158,7 @@ public class RequestMappingHandlerMethodMappingTests {
 
 	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
 	@Controller
+	@RequestMapping
 	private static class Handler {
 
 		@RequestMapping(value = "/foo", method = RequestMethod.GET)
@@ -157,6 +172,10 @@ public class RequestMappingHandlerMethodMappingTests {
 		@RequestMapping(value = "/ba*", method = { RequestMethod.GET, RequestMethod.HEAD })
 		public void bar() {
 		}
+
+		@RequestMapping(value = "")
+		public void empty() {
+		}
 	}
 	
 }
\ No newline at end of file