mvc:annotation-driven doesnot have alwaysUseFullPath attribute. However, in instances this is needed, adding the following bean BEFORE mvc:annnotation-driven tag will set up the alwaysUseFullPath correctly <bean class="org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation.RequestMappingHandlerMapping" id="handlerMapping"> <property name="alwaysUseFullPath" value="true"> </property></bean> So the fuller xml should like this <bean class="org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.method.annotation.RequestMappingHandlerMapping" id="handlerMapping"> <property name="alwaysUseFullPath" value="true"> </property></bean> <mvc:annotation-driven> <mvc:message-converters> <bean class="org.springframework.http.converter.json.MappingJacksonHttpMessageConverter"> <property name="objectMapper" ref="jacks