diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/providers/preauth/PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/providers/preauth/PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider.java
index 11d8e30464..bb47e0306a 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/providers/preauth/PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/security/providers/preauth/PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider.java
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ public class PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider implements AuthenticationPro
 
     /**
      * Authenticate the given PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationToken.
+     * <p>
+     * If the principal contained in the authentication object is null, the request will be ignored to allow other
+     * providers to authenticate it.
      */
     public Authentication authenticate(Authentication authentication) throws AuthenticationException {
         if (!supports(authentication.getClass())) {
@@ -52,7 +55,12 @@ public class PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider implements AuthenticationPro
             logger.debug("PreAuthenticated authentication request: " + authentication);
         }
 
-        UserDetails ud = preAuthenticatedUserDetailsService.loadUserDetails((PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationToken) authentication);
+        if(authentication.getPrincipal() == null) {
+            logger.debug("No pre-authenticated principal found in request.");
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        UserDetails ud = preAuthenticatedUserDetailsService.loadUserDetails(authentication);
 
         if (ud == null) {
             return null;
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/springframework/security/providers/preauth/PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProviderTests.java b/core/src/test/java/org/springframework/security/providers/preauth/PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProviderTests.java
index e0dc02f40d..5753f8efae 100755
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/springframework/security/providers/preauth/PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProviderTests.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/springframework/security/providers/preauth/PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProviderTests.java
@@ -36,7 +36,14 @@ public class PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProviderTests extends TestCase {
 		assertNull(result);
 	}
 
-	public final void testAuthenticateKnownUser() throws Exception {
+    public final void testNullPrincipalReturnsNullAuthentication() throws Exception {
+        PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider provider = new PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider();
+        Authentication request = new PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationToken(null, "dummyPwd");
+        Authentication result = provider.authenticate(request);
+        assertNull(result);
+    }
+
+    public final void testAuthenticateKnownUser() throws Exception {
 		UserDetails ud = new User("dummyUser", "dummyPwd", true, true, true, true, new GrantedAuthority[] {});
 		PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationProvider provider = getProvider(ud);
 		Authentication request = new PreAuthenticatedAuthenticationToken("dummyUser", "dummyPwd");