diff --git a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/criterion/Property.java b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/criterion/Property.java
index 42ad8eabcd..d988d6cc03 100755
--- a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/criterion/Property.java
+++ b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/criterion/Property.java
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@ public class Property extends PropertyProjection {
 		return Restrictions.like(getPropertyName(), value, matchMode);
 	}
 
-	public Criterion eq(Object value) {
+	public SimpleExpression eq(Object value) {
 		return Restrictions.eq(getPropertyName(), value);
 	}
 
-	public Criterion ne(Object value) {
+	public SimpleExpression ne(Object value) {
 		return Restrictions.ne(getPropertyName(), value);
 	}
 
diff --git a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/criterion/Restrictions.java b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/criterion/Restrictions.java
index d39acadcdd..6c0ee654f5 100755
--- a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/criterion/Restrictions.java
+++ b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/criterion/Restrictions.java
@@ -61,10 +61,7 @@ public class Restrictions {
 	 * @param value
 	 * @return Criterion
 	 */
-	public static Criterion eq(String propertyName, Object value) {
-		if (null == value) {
-			return isNull(propertyName);
-		}
+	public static SimpleExpression eq(String propertyName, Object value) {
 		return new SimpleExpression(propertyName, value, "=");
 	}
 	/**
@@ -73,10 +70,7 @@ public class Restrictions {
 	 * @param value
 	 * @return Criterion
 	 */
-	public static Criterion ne(String propertyName, Object value) {
-		if (null == value) {
-			return isNotNull(propertyName);
-		}
+	public static SimpleExpression ne(String propertyName, Object value) {
 		return new SimpleExpression(propertyName, value, "<>");
 	}
 	/**