diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/dispatcher/mapper/ActionMapper.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/dispatcher/mapper/ActionMapper.java
index a4af0c973..bb42556ce 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/dispatcher/mapper/ActionMapper.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/dispatcher/mapper/ActionMapper.java
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
 
 package org.apache.struts2.dispatcher.mapper;
 
-import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
-
 import com.opensymphony.xwork2.config.ConfigurationManager;
 
+import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
+
 /**
  * <!-- START SNIPPET: javadoc -->
  *
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public interface ActionMapper {
      *
      * @param request The servlet request
      * @param configManager The current configuration manager
-     * @return The appropriate action mapping
+     * @return The appropriate action mapping or null if mapping cannot be determined
      */
     ActionMapping getMapping(HttpServletRequest request, ConfigurationManager configManager);
 
diff --git a/plugins/rest/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/rest/RestActionMapper.java b/plugins/rest/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/rest/RestActionMapper.java
index f67834187..f0e44bd35 100644
--- a/plugins/rest/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/rest/RestActionMapper.java
+++ b/plugins/rest/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/rest/RestActionMapper.java
@@ -289,9 +289,10 @@ public class RestActionMapper extends DefaultActionMapper {
             }
 
             mapping.setName(fullName);
+            return mapping;
         }
-
-        return mapping;
+        // if action name isn't specified, it can be a normal request, to static resource, return null to allow handle that case
+        return null;
     }
 
     private void handleDynamicMethodInvocation(ActionMapping mapping, String name) {
diff --git a/plugins/rest/src/test/java/org/apache/struts2/rest/RestActionMapperTest.java b/plugins/rest/src/test/java/org/apache/struts2/rest/RestActionMapperTest.java
index 43114cd72..ffaa99ef6 100644
--- a/plugins/rest/src/test/java/org/apache/struts2/rest/RestActionMapperTest.java
+++ b/plugins/rest/src/test/java/org/apache/struts2/rest/RestActionMapperTest.java
@@ -57,6 +57,15 @@ public class RestActionMapperTest extends TestCase {
         };
     }
 
+    public void testRootMapping() throws Exception {
+        req.setRequestURI("/myapp/");
+        req.setServletPath("/");
+
+        ActionMapping mapping = mapper.getMapping(req, configManager);
+
+        assertNull(mapping);
+    }
+
     public void testGetMapping() throws Exception {
         req.setRequestURI("/myapp/animals/dog");
         req.setServletPath("/animals/dog");