diff --git a/byte-buddy-dep/src/main/java/net/bytebuddy/build/Plugin.java b/byte-buddy-dep/src/main/java/net/bytebuddy/build/Plugin.java
index b796709c5c..3ba2c159a5 100644
--- a/byte-buddy-dep/src/main/java/net/bytebuddy/build/Plugin.java
+++ b/byte-buddy-dep/src/main/java/net/bytebuddy/build/Plugin.java
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 import net.bytebuddy.utility.StreamDrainer;
 import net.bytebuddy.utility.nullability.AlwaysNull;
 import net.bytebuddy.utility.nullability.MaybeNull;
+import net.bytebuddy.utility.nullability.UnknownNull;
 
 import java.io.*;
 import java.lang.annotation.*;
@@ -3346,7 +3347,7 @@ protected MultiReleaseVersionMatcher(ClassFileVersion classFileVersion) {
                     /**
                      * {@inheritDoc}
                      */
-                    public boolean matches(Element target) {
+                    public boolean matches(@UnknownNull Element target) {
                         String name = target.getName();
                         if (name.startsWith("/")) {
                             name = name.substring(1);