diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/BeanMappingMethod.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/BeanMappingMethod.java
index 080eab1e76..c0700b634d 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/BeanMappingMethod.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/internal/model/BeanMappingMethod.java
@@ -1693,6 +1693,15 @@ private void applyTargetThisMapping() {
                 // apply name based mapping
                 applyPropertyNameBasedMapping( sourceRefs );
 
+                // the source of a target this mapping is only consumed when it actually contributed
+                // a property, so an unused target this still reports its source as unmapped
+                if ( !sourceRefs.isEmpty() ) {
+                    String sourceName = targetThis.getSourceReference().getShallowestPropertyName();
+                    if ( sourceName != null ) {
+                        unprocessedSourceProperties.remove( sourceName );
+                    }
+                }
+
                 // add handled target properties
                 handledTargetProperties.addAll( sourceRefs.stream()
                     .map( SourceReference::getDeepestPropertyName )
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/ErroneousIssue3839UnusedTargetThisMapper.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/ErroneousIssue3839UnusedTargetThisMapper.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..866a0c94b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/ErroneousIssue3839UnusedTargetThisMapper.java
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright MapStruct Authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License version 2.0, available at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ */
+package org.mapstruct.ap.test.bugs._3839;
+
+import org.mapstruct.Mapper;
+import org.mapstruct.Mapping;
+import org.mapstruct.ReportingPolicy;
+
+@Mapper( unmappedSourcePolicy = ReportingPolicy.ERROR )
+public interface ErroneousIssue3839UnusedTargetThisMapper {
+
+    @Mapping( target = ".", source = "record" )
+    Target map(Source source);
+
+    class Source {
+
+        private Record record;
+
+        public Record getRecord() {
+            return record;
+        }
+
+        public void setRecord(Record record) {
+            this.record = record;
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Record {
+
+        private String alpha;
+
+        public String getAlpha() {
+            return alpha;
+        }
+
+        public void setAlpha(String alpha) {
+            this.alpha = alpha;
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Target {
+
+        private String zulu;
+
+        public String getZulu() {
+            return zulu;
+        }
+
+        public void setZulu(String zulu) {
+            this.zulu = zulu;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839DocExampleMapper.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839DocExampleMapper.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ecddbe368f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839DocExampleMapper.java
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright MapStruct Authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License version 2.0, available at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ */
+package org.mapstruct.ap.test.bugs._3839;
+
+import org.mapstruct.Mapper;
+import org.mapstruct.Mapping;
+import org.mapstruct.ReportingPolicy;
+
+/**
+ * The "target this" example from the reference documentation.
+ */
+@Mapper( unmappedSourcePolicy = ReportingPolicy.ERROR )
+public interface Issue3839DocExampleMapper {
+
+    @Mapping( target = "name", source = "record.name" )
+    @Mapping( target = ".", source = "record" )
+    @Mapping( target = ".", source = "account" )
+    Customer map(CustomerDto customerDto);
+
+    class CustomerDto {
+
+        private Record record;
+
+        private Account account;
+
+        public Record getRecord() {
+            return record;
+        }
+
+        public void setRecord(Record record) {
+            this.record = record;
+        }
+
+        public Account getAccount() {
+            return account;
+        }
+
+        public void setAccount(Account account) {
+            this.account = account;
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Record {
+
+        private String name;
+
+        private String description;
+
+        public String getName() {
+            return name;
+        }
+
+        public void setName(String name) {
+            this.name = name;
+        }
+
+        public String getDescription() {
+            return description;
+        }
+
+        public void setDescription(String description) {
+            this.description = description;
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Account {
+
+        private String name;
+
+        private long number;
+
+        public String getName() {
+            return name;
+        }
+
+        public void setName(String name) {
+            this.name = name;
+        }
+
+        public long getNumber() {
+            return number;
+        }
+
+        public void setNumber(long number) {
+            this.number = number;
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Customer {
+
+        private String name;
+
+        private String description;
+
+        private long number;
+
+        public String getName() {
+            return name;
+        }
+
+        public void setName(String name) {
+            this.name = name;
+        }
+
+        public String getDescription() {
+            return description;
+        }
+
+        public void setDescription(String description) {
+            this.description = description;
+        }
+
+        public long getNumber() {
+            return number;
+        }
+
+        public void setNumber(long number) {
+            this.number = number;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839Mapper.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839Mapper.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7e436b394a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839Mapper.java
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright MapStruct Authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License version 2.0, available at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ */
+package org.mapstruct.ap.test.bugs._3839;
+
+import org.mapstruct.Mapper;
+import org.mapstruct.Mapping;
+import org.mapstruct.ReportingPolicy;
+
+/**
+ * A single {@code target = "."} mapping whose source contributes both target properties.
+ */
+@Mapper( unmappedSourcePolicy = ReportingPolicy.ERROR )
+public interface Issue3839Mapper {
+
+    @Mapping( target = ".", source = "record" )
+    Customer map(CustomerDto customerDto);
+
+    class CustomerDto {
+
+        private Record record;
+
+        public Record getRecord() {
+            return record;
+        }
+
+        public void setRecord(Record record) {
+            this.record = record;
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Record {
+
+        private String name;
+
+        private String description;
+
+        public String getName() {
+            return name;
+        }
+
+        public void setName(String name) {
+            this.name = name;
+        }
+
+        public String getDescription() {
+            return description;
+        }
+
+        public void setDescription(String description) {
+            this.description = description;
+        }
+    }
+
+    class Customer {
+
+        private String name;
+
+        private String description;
+
+        public String getName() {
+            return name;
+        }
+
+        public void setName(String name) {
+            this.name = name;
+        }
+
+        public String getDescription() {
+            return description;
+        }
+
+        public void setDescription(String description) {
+            this.description = description;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839Test.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839Test.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a1508478d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/bugs/_3839/Issue3839Test.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright MapStruct Authors.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License version 2.0, available at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ */
+package org.mapstruct.ap.test.bugs._3839;
+
+import javax.tools.Diagnostic.Kind;
+
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.IssueKey;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.ProcessorTest;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.WithClasses;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.compilation.annotation.CompilationResult;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.compilation.annotation.Diagnostic;
+import org.mapstruct.ap.testutil.compilation.annotation.ExpectedCompilationOutcome;
+
+/**
+ * A source consumed by {@code @Mapping( target = "." )} should count as mapped for
+ * {@code unmappedSourcePolicy}, unless the target this mapping contributed nothing.
+ */
+@IssueKey( "3839" )
+public class Issue3839Test {
+
+    @ProcessorTest
+    @WithClasses( Issue3839Mapper.class )
+    public void targetThisSourceIsNotReportedAsUnmapped() {
+    }
+
+    @ProcessorTest
+    @WithClasses( Issue3839DocExampleMapper.class )
+    public void documentedTargetThisExampleCompiles() {
+    }
+
+    @ProcessorTest
+    @WithClasses( ErroneousIssue3839UnusedTargetThisMapper.class )
+    @ExpectedCompilationOutcome(
+        value = CompilationResult.FAILED,
+        diagnostics = {
+            @Diagnostic(type = ErroneousIssue3839UnusedTargetThisMapper.class,
+                kind = Kind.WARNING,
+                line = 16,
+                message = "Unmapped target property: \"zulu\"."),
+            @Diagnostic(type = ErroneousIssue3839UnusedTargetThisMapper.class,
+                kind = Kind.ERROR,
+                line = 16,
+                message = "Unmapped source property: \"record\".")
+        }
+    )
+    public void unusedTargetThisStillReportsItsSource() {
+    }
+}