diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/PersistentPropertyPathAccessor.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/PersistentPropertyPathAccessor.java
index e9b0b16c3..8839d1e8c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/PersistentPropertyPathAccessor.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/mapping/PersistentPropertyPathAccessor.java
@@ -55,6 +55,16 @@ public interface PersistentPropertyPathAccessor<T> extends PersistentPropertyAcc
 	@Nullable
 	Object getProperty(PersistentPropertyPath<? extends PersistentProperty<?>> path, GetOptions context);
 
+	/**
+	 * Sets the given value for the {@link PersistentProperty} pointed to by the given {@link PersistentPropertyPath}. The
+	 * lookup of intermediate values must not yield {@literal null}.
+	 *
+	 * @param path must not be {@literal null} or empty.
+	 * @param value can be {@literal null}.
+	 * @see AccessOptions#DEFAULT
+	 */
+	void setProperty(PersistentPropertyPath<? extends PersistentProperty<?>> path, @Nullable Object value);
+
 	/**
 	 * Sets the given value for the {@link PersistentProperty} pointed to by the given {@link PersistentPropertyPath}
 	 * considering the given {@link AccessOptions}.