diff --git a/python_modules/dagster/dagster/_core/definitions/definitions_class.py b/python_modules/dagster/dagster/_core/definitions/definitions_class.py
index 38557b2ad35a7..75e74e219d0aa 100644
--- a/python_modules/dagster/dagster/_core/definitions/definitions_class.py
+++ b/python_modules/dagster/dagster/_core/definitions/definitions_class.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 from dagster._core.definitions.events import AssetKey, CoercibleToAssetKey
 from dagster._core.definitions.executor_definition import ExecutorDefinition
 from dagster._core.definitions.logger_definition import LoggerDefinition
+from dagster._core.errors import DagsterInvariantViolationError
 from dagster._core.execution.build_resources import wrap_resources_for_execution
 from dagster._core.execution.with_resources import with_resources
 from dagster._core.executor.base import Executor
@@ -540,6 +541,14 @@ def get_implicit_job_def_for_assets(
     ) -> Optional[JobDefinition]:
         return self.get_repository_def().get_implicit_job_def_for_assets(asset_keys)
 
+    def get_assets_def(self, key: CoercibleToAssetKey) -> AssetsDefinition:
+        asset_key = AssetKey.from_coercible(key)
+        for assets_def in self.get_asset_graph().assets:
+            if asset_key in assets_def.keys:
+                return assets_def
+
+        raise DagsterInvariantViolationError(f"Could not find asset {asset_key}")
+
     @cached_method
     def get_repository_def(self) -> RepositoryDefinition:
         """Definitions is implemented by wrapping RepositoryDefinition. Get that underlying object
diff --git a/python_modules/dagster/dagster/_core/definitions/observable_asset.py b/python_modules/dagster/dagster/_core/definitions/observable_asset.py
index ebbfcbebecc6d..b9cf41bb00ed2 100644
--- a/python_modules/dagster/dagster/_core/definitions/observable_asset.py
+++ b/python_modules/dagster/dagster/_core/definitions/observable_asset.py
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
     AssetSpec,
     AssetVarietal,
 )
-from dagster._core.definitions.decorators.asset_decorator import multi_asset
+from dagster._core.definitions.decorators.asset_decorator import asset, multi_asset
+from dagster._core.definitions.source_asset import SourceAsset
 from dagster._core.errors import DagsterInvariantViolationError
 
 
@@ -46,3 +47,39 @@ def an_asset() -> None:
         )
 
     return an_asset
+
+
+def create_unexecutable_observable_assets_def_from_source_asset(source_asset: SourceAsset):
+    check.invariant(
+        source_asset.observe_fn is None,
+        "Observable source assets not supported yet: observe_fn should be None",
+    )
+    check.invariant(
+        source_asset.partitions_def is None,
+        "Observable source assets not supported yet: partitions_def should be None",
+    )
+    check.invariant(
+        source_asset.auto_observe_interval_minutes is None,
+        "Observable source assets not supported yet: auto_observe_interval_minutes should be None",
+    )
+
+    kwargs = {
+        "key": source_asset.key,
+        "metadata": {
+            **source_asset.metadata,
+            **{SYSTEM_METADATA_KEY_ASSET_VARIETAL: AssetVarietal.UNEXECUTABLE.value},
+        },
+        "group_name": source_asset.group_name,
+        "description": source_asset.description,
+    }
+
+    if source_asset.io_manager_def:
+        kwargs["io_manager_def"] = source_asset.io_manager_def
+    elif source_asset.io_manager_key:
+        kwargs["io_manager_key"] = source_asset.io_manager_key
+
+    @asset(**kwargs)
+    def shim_asset() -> None:
+        raise NotImplementedError(f"Asset {source_asset.key} is not executable")
+
+    return shim_asset
diff --git a/python_modules/dagster/dagster_tests/definitions_tests/test_observable_assets.py b/python_modules/dagster/dagster_tests/definitions_tests/test_observable_assets.py
index 7f4fa11ac566f..32580ec62a05a 100644
--- a/python_modules/dagster/dagster_tests/definitions_tests/test_observable_assets.py
+++ b/python_modules/dagster/dagster_tests/definitions_tests/test_observable_assets.py
@@ -3,12 +3,19 @@
     AssetKey,
     AssetsDefinition,
     AutoMaterializePolicy,
+    DagsterInstance,
+    Definitions,
+    IOManager,
+    SourceAsset,
     _check as check,
     asset,
 )
 from dagster._core.definitions.asset_spec import AssetSpec
 from dagster._core.definitions.freshness_policy import FreshnessPolicy
-from dagster._core.definitions.observable_asset import create_unexecutable_observable_assets_def
+from dagster._core.definitions.observable_asset import (
+    create_unexecutable_observable_assets_def,
+    create_unexecutable_observable_assets_def_from_source_asset,
+)
 
 
 def test_observable_asset_basic_creation() -> None:
@@ -72,3 +79,46 @@ def test_observable_asset_creation_with_deps() -> None:
     assert assets_def.asset_deps[expected_key] == {
         AssetKey(["observable_asset_two"]),
     }
+
+
+def test_how_source_assets_are_backwards_compatible() -> None:
+    class DummyIOManager(IOManager):
+        def handle_output(self, context, obj) -> None:
+            pass
+
+        def load_input(self, context) -> str:
+            return "hardcoded"
+
+    source_asset = SourceAsset(key="source_asset", io_manager_def=DummyIOManager())
+
+    @asset
+    def an_asset(source_asset: str) -> str:
+        return "hardcoded" + "-computed"
+
+    defs_with_source = Definitions(assets=[source_asset, an_asset])
+
+    instance = DagsterInstance.ephemeral()
+
+    result_one = defs_with_source.get_implicit_global_asset_job_def().execute_in_process(
+        instance=instance
+    )
+
+    assert result_one.success
+    assert result_one.output_for_node("an_asset") == "hardcoded-computed"
+
+    defs_with_shim = Definitions(
+        assets=[create_unexecutable_observable_assets_def_from_source_asset(source_asset), an_asset]
+    )
+
+    assert isinstance(defs_with_shim.get_assets_def("source_asset"), AssetsDefinition)
+
+    result_two = defs_with_shim.get_implicit_global_asset_job_def().execute_in_process(
+        instance=instance,
+        # currently we have to explicitly select the asset to exclude the source from execution
+        asset_selection=[
+            AssetKey("an_asset")
+        ],
+    )
+
+    assert result_two.success
+    assert result_two.output_for_node("an_asset") == "hardcoded-computed"