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 9deaadf5ce..21d31311d1 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
@@ -3348,7 +3348,10 @@ protected MultiReleaseVersionMatcher(ClassFileVersion classFileVersion) {
                     /**
                      * {@inheritDoc}
                      */
-                    public boolean matches(@NeverNull Element target) {
+                    public boolean matches(@MaybeNull Element target) {
+                        if (target == null) {
+                            return true;
+                        }
                         String name = target.getName();
                         if (name.startsWith("/")) {
                             name = name.substring(1);