diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/common/DateFormatValidatorFactory.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/common/DateFormatValidatorFactory.java
index dddd6d685..cee6a1987 100755
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/common/DateFormatValidatorFactory.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/common/DateFormatValidatorFactory.java
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ final class DateFormatValidatorFactory {
             catch ( InvocationTargetException e ) {
                 return invalidDateFormat( dateFormat, e.getCause() );
             }
+            catch ( ClassNotFoundException e ) {
+                return noJodaOnClassPath();
+            }
             catch ( Exception e ) {
                 return invalidDateFormat( dateFormat, e );
             }
@@ -185,4 +188,8 @@ final class DateFormatValidatorFactory {
     private static DateFormatValidationResult invalidDateFormat(String dateFormat, Throwable e) {
         return new DateFormatValidationResult( false, Message.GENERAL_INVALID_DATE, dateFormat, e.getMessage() );
     }
+
+    private static DateFormatValidationResult noJodaOnClassPath() {
+        return new DateFormatValidationResult( false, Message.GENERAL_JODA_NOT_ON_CLASSPATH );
+    }
 }
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 4d7d629fb..3a65e30ce 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
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ public enum Message {
     GENERAL_UNSUPPORTED_DATE_FORMAT_CHECK( "No dateFormat check is supported for types %s, %s" ),
     GENERAL_VALID_DATE( "Given date format \"%s\" is valid.", Diagnostic.Kind.NOTE ),
     GENERAL_INVALID_DATE( "Given date format \"%s\" is invalid. Message: \"%s\"." ),
+    GENERAL_JODA_NOT_ON_CLASSPATH( "Cannot validate Joda dateformat, no Joda on classpath. Consider adding Joda to the annotation processorpath.", Diagnostic.Kind.WARNING ),
     GENERAL_NOT_ALL_FORGED_CREATED( "Internal Error in creation of Forged Methods, it was expected all Forged Methods to finished with creation, but %s did not" ),
     GENERAL_NO_SUITABLE_CONSTRUCTOR( "%s does not have an accessible parameterless constructor." ),