diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessor.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessor.java
index c8e685941..6dd2aae28 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessor.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessor.java
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 import org.springframework.core.CollectionFactory;
 import org.springframework.data.mapping.AccessOptions;
 import org.springframework.data.mapping.AccessOptions.GetOptions;
+import org.springframework.data.mapping.AccessOptions.GetOptions.GetNulls;
 import org.springframework.data.mapping.AccessOptions.SetOptions;
 import org.springframework.data.mapping.AccessOptions.SetOptions.SetNulls;
 import org.springframework.data.mapping.MappingException;
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 @RequiredArgsConstructor
 class SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessor<T> implements PersistentPropertyPathAccessor<T> {
 
+	private static final GetOptions DEFAULT_GET_OPTIONS = AccessOptions.defaultGetOptions();
+
 	private final @NonNull PersistentPropertyAccessor<T> delegate;
 
 	/*
@@ -81,7 +84,7 @@ class SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessor<T> implements PersistentPropertyPathA
 	@Nullable
 	@Override
 	public Object getProperty(PersistentPropertyPath<? extends PersistentProperty<?>> path) {
-		return getProperty(path, AccessOptions.defaultGetOptions());
+		return getProperty(path, DEFAULT_GET_OPTIONS);
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -151,7 +154,11 @@ class SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessor<T> implements PersistentPropertyPathA
 			return;
 		}
 
-		Object parent = parentPath.isEmpty() ? getBean() : getProperty(parentPath);
+		GetOptions lookupOptions = options.getNullHandling() != REJECT
+				? DEFAULT_GET_OPTIONS.withNullValues(GetNulls.EARLY_RETURN)
+				: DEFAULT_GET_OPTIONS;
+
+		Object parent = parentPath.isEmpty() ? getBean() : getProperty(parentPath, lookupOptions);
 
 		if (parent == null) {
 			handleNull(path, options.getNullHandling());
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessorUnitTests.java b/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessorUnitTests.java
index 6e7b78043..ab1ab395a 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessorUnitTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/model/SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessorUnitTests.java
@@ -86,6 +86,20 @@ class SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessorUnitTests {
 		}).doesNotThrowAnyException();
 	}
 
+	@Test // DATACMNS-1296
+	void skipsIntermediateNullsWhenSettingNestedValues() {
+
+		CustomerWrapperWrapper wrapper = new CustomerWrapperWrapper(null);
+
+		PersistentPropertyPathAccessor<CustomerWrapperWrapper> accessor = getAccessor(wrapper);
+		PersistentPropertyPath<SamplePersistentProperty> path = context
+				.getPersistentPropertyPath("wrapper.customer.firstname", CustomerWrapperWrapper.class);
+
+		assertThatCode(() -> {
+			accessor.setProperty(path, "Dave", AccessOptions.defaultSetOptions().skipNulls());
+		}).doesNotThrowAnyException();
+	}
+
 	private void assertFirstnamesSetFor(Customers customers, String path) {
 
 		PersistentPropertyPath<SamplePersistentProperty> propertyPath = context.getPersistentPropertyPath(path,
@@ -124,4 +138,9 @@ class SimplePersistentPropertyPathAccessorUnitTests {
 	static class CustomerWrapper {
 		Customer customer;
 	}
+
+	@AllArgsConstructor
+	static class CustomerWrapperWrapper {
+		CustomerWrapper wrapper;
+	}
 }