diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/DecoratedWith.java b/core/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/DecoratedWith.java
index 78b2c580f..8a644f4b2 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/DecoratedWith.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/DecoratedWith.java
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Target;
  * @author Gunnar Morling
  */
 @Target(ElementType.TYPE)
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.SOURCE)
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.CLASS)
 public @interface DecoratedWith {
 
     /**