diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/BridgeMethodResolver.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/BridgeMethodResolver.java
index a5d6ec04586c..a3c3f2ac3283 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/BridgeMethodResolver.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/BridgeMethodResolver.java
@@ -196,7 +196,10 @@ private static Method searchInterfaces(Class<?>[] interfaces, Method bridgeMetho
 				return method;
 			}
 			else {
-				return searchInterfaces(ifc.getInterfaces(), bridgeMethod);
+				Method parentIfcMethod = searchInterfaces(ifc.getInterfaces(), bridgeMethod);
+				if (parentIfcMethod != null) {
+					return parentIfcMethod;
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		return null;
diff --git a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/BridgeMethodResolverTests.java b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/BridgeMethodResolverTests.java
index f563c0e37e91..9e6f29a5755a 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/BridgeMethodResolverTests.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/BridgeMethodResolverTests.java
@@ -809,7 +809,8 @@ public static class ModifiedMessageEvent extends MessageEvent {
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public static class MessageBroadcasterImpl extends
 			GenericEventBroadcasterImpl<MessageEvent>
-					implements MessageBroadcaster {
+					implements Serializable,  // implement more than one interface, see SPR-16288
+			MessageBroadcaster {
 
 		public MessageBroadcasterImpl() {
 			super(NewMessageEvent.class);