diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/odm/core/impl/DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/odm/core/impl/DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.java
index 8d837986..0d1ea91e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/odm/core/impl/DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/odm/core/impl/DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper.java
@@ -117,9 +117,18 @@ public class DefaultObjectDirectoryMapper implements ObjectDirectoryMapper {
         Set<String> managedAttributeNames = new HashSet<String>();
         // extract all relevant attributes
         for (Field field : entityData.metaData) {
-        	String[] attributesOfField = entityData.metaData.getAttribute(field).getAttributes();
+        	AttributeMetaData attributeMetaData = entityData.metaData.getAttribute(field);
+        	// skip transient field
+        	if (attributeMetaData.isTransient()) {
+        		continue;
+        	}
+        	String[] attributesOfField = attributeMetaData.getAttributes();
         	if (attributesOfField != null && attributesOfField.length > 0) {
+        		// attribute names are either given through annotation
         		managedAttributeNames.addAll(Arrays.asList(attributesOfField));
+        	} else {
+        		// or implicitly by relying on the field name
+        		managedAttributeNames.add(field.getName());
         	}
         }
         // always add the mandatory attribute objectclass (which is always used for the mapping)