diff --git a/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/pom.xml b/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/pom.xml
index eaaa37494..5635df3bb 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/pom.xml
+++ b/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/pom.xml
@@ -7,18 +7,6 @@
 	<packaging>jar</packaging>
 	<name>Spring Cloud Sleuth Core</name>
 	<description>Spring Cloud Sleuth Core</description>
-	<build>
-		<plugins>
-			<plugin>
-				<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
-				<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-				<configuration>
-					<source>1.8</source>
-					<target>1.8</target>
-				</configuration>
-			</plugin>
-		</plugins>
-	</build>
 
 	<parent>
 		<groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
@@ -90,7 +78,6 @@
 		<dependency>
 			<groupId>org.aspectj</groupId>
 			<artifactId>aspectjrt</artifactId>
-			<optional>true</optional>
 		</dependency>
 		<dependency>
 			<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
diff --git a/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/sleuth/autoconfig/TraceAutoConfiguration.java b/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/sleuth/autoconfig/TraceAutoConfiguration.java
index 8895f1c06..90c1916d7 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/sleuth/autoconfig/TraceAutoConfiguration.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-sleuth-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/sleuth/autoconfig/TraceAutoConfiguration.java
@@ -39,12 +39,14 @@ import org.springframework.cloud.sleuth.trace.DefaultTracer;
 import org.springframework.context.ApplicationEventPublisher;
 import org.springframework.context.annotation.Bean;
 import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration;
+import org.springframework.context.annotation.EnableAspectJAutoProxy;
 
 /**
  * @author Spencer Gibb
  */
 @Configuration
 @ConditionalOnProperty(value="spring.sleuth.enabled", matchIfMissing=true)
+@EnableAspectJAutoProxy(proxyTargetClass = true)
 @EnableConfigurationProperties
 public class TraceAutoConfiguration {