diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/source/MappingOptions.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/source/MappingOptions.java
index 5046ce8b2..2af1c95f7 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/source/MappingOptions.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/source/MappingOptions.java
@@ -254,6 +254,9 @@ public class MappingOptions extends DelegatingOptions {
             && gem.ignore().hasValue() && gem.ignore().getValue() ) {
             message = Message.PROPERTYMAPPING_IGNORE_AND_NVPMS;
         }
+        else if ( ".".equals( gem.target().get() ) && gem.ignore().hasValue() && gem.ignore().getValue() ) {
+            message = Message.PROPERTYMAPPING_TARGET_THIS_AND_IGNORE;
+        }
 
         if ( message == null ) {
             return true;
diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/util/Message.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/util/Message.java
index 6f72f720f..249825ec5 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/util/Message.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/util/Message.java
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public enum Message {
     PROPERTYMAPPING_CONSTANT_VALUE_AND_NVPMS( "Constant and nullValuePropertyMappingStrategy are both defined in @Mapping, either define a constant or an nullValuePropertyMappingStrategy." ),
     PROPERTYMAPPING_DEFAULT_EXPERSSION_AND_NVPMS( "DefaultExpression and nullValuePropertyMappingStrategy are both defined in @Mapping, either define a defaultExpression or an nullValuePropertyMappingStrategy." ),
     PROPERTYMAPPING_IGNORE_AND_NVPMS( "Ignore and nullValuePropertyMappingStrategy are both defined in @Mapping, either define ignore or an nullValuePropertyMappingStrategy." ),
+    PROPERTYMAPPING_TARGET_THIS_AND_IGNORE( "Using @Mapping( target = \".\", ignore = true ) is not allowed. You need to use @BeanMapping( ignoreByDefault = true ) if you would like to ignore all non explicitly mapped target properties." ),
     PROPERTYMAPPING_EXPRESSION_AND_QUALIFIER_BOTH_DEFINED("Expression and a qualifier both defined in @Mapping, either define an expression or a qualifier."),
     PROPERTYMAPPING_INVALID_EXPRESSION( "Value for expression must be given in the form \"java(<EXPRESSION>)\"." ),
     PROPERTYMAPPING_INVALID_DEFAULT_EXPRESSION( "Value for default expression must be given in the form \"java(<EXPRESSION>)\"." ),
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3238/ErroneousIssue3238Mapper.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3238/ErroneousIssue3238Mapper.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fd0d4672a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3238/ErroneousIssue3238Mapper.java
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright MapStruct Authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License version 2.0, available at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ */
+package org.mapstruct.ap.test.bugs._3238;
+
+import org.mapstruct.Mapper;
+import org.mapstruct.Mapping;
+
+@Mapper
+public interface ErroneousIssue3238Mapper {
+
+    @Mapping(target = ".", ignore = true)
+    Target map(Source source);
+
+    class Target {
+
+        private final String value;
+
+        public Target(String value) {
+            this.value = value;
+        }
+
+        public String getValue() {
+            return value;
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Source {
+
+        private final String value;
+
+        public Source(String value) {
+            this.value = value;
+        }
+
+        public String getValue() {
+            return value;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3238/Issue3238Test.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3238/Issue3238Test.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6648495a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3238/Issue3238Test.java
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright MapStruct Authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License version 2.0, available at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ */
+package org.mapstruct.ap.test.bugs._3238;
+
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.IssueKey;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.ProcessorTest;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.WithClasses;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.compilation.annotation.CompilationResult;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.compilation.annotation.Diagnostic;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.compilation.annotation.ExpectedCompilationOutcome;
+
+/**
+ * @author Filip Hrisafov
+ */
+@WithClasses(ErroneousIssue3238Mapper.class)
+@IssueKey("3238")
+class Issue3238Test {
+
+    @ProcessorTest
+    @ExpectedCompilationOutcome(
+        value = CompilationResult.FAILED,
+        diagnostics = @Diagnostic( type = ErroneousIssue3238Mapper.class,
+            kind = javax.tools.Diagnostic.Kind.ERROR,
+            line = 14,
+            message = "Using @Mapping( target = \".\", ignore = true ) is not allowed." +
+                " You need to use @BeanMapping( ignoreByDefault = true ) if you would like to ignore" +
+                " all non explicitly mapped target properties."
+        )
+    )
+    void shouldGenerateValidCompileError() {
+
+    }
+
+}