diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/validation/beanvalidation/MethodValidationExcludeFilter.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/validation/beanvalidation/MethodValidationExcludeFilter.java
index d3d5b43f7332..888183b0f746 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/validation/beanvalidation/MethodValidationExcludeFilter.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/validation/beanvalidation/MethodValidationExcludeFilter.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2012-2021 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2012-2022 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ public interface MethodValidationExcludeFilter {
 
 	/**
 	 * Factory method to create a {@link MethodValidationExcludeFilter} that excludes
-	 * classes by annotation.
+	 * classes by annotation found using an {@link SearchStrategy#INHERITED_ANNOTATIONS
+	 * inherited annotations search strategy}.
 	 * @param annotationType the annotation to check
 	 * @return a {@link MethodValidationExcludeFilter} instance
 	 */
@@ -50,14 +51,14 @@ static MethodValidationExcludeFilter byAnnotation(Class<? extends Annotation> an
 
 	/**
 	 * Factory method to create a {@link MethodValidationExcludeFilter} that excludes
-	 * classes by annotation.
+	 * classes by annotation found using the given search strategy.
 	 * @param annotationType the annotation to check
 	 * @param searchStrategy the annotation search strategy
 	 * @return a {@link MethodValidationExcludeFilter} instance
 	 */
 	static MethodValidationExcludeFilter byAnnotation(Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType,
 			SearchStrategy searchStrategy) {
-		return (type) -> MergedAnnotations.from(type, SearchStrategy.SUPERCLASS).isPresent(annotationType);
+		return (type) -> MergedAnnotations.from(type, searchStrategy).isPresent(annotationType);
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/validation/beanvalidation/MethodValidationExcludeFilterTests.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/validation/beanvalidation/MethodValidationExcludeFilterTests.java
index 3976d5bbbd9f..bb12e471a468 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/validation/beanvalidation/MethodValidationExcludeFilterTests.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/validation/beanvalidation/MethodValidationExcludeFilterTests.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2012-2020 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2012-2022 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -16,11 +16,14 @@
 
 package org.springframework.boot.validation.beanvalidation;
 
+import java.lang.annotation.Inherited;
 import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 
+import org.springframework.core.annotation.MergedAnnotations.SearchStrategy;
+
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
 
 /**
@@ -42,6 +45,19 @@ void byAnnotationWhenClassIsNotAnnotatedIncludes() {
 		assertThat(filter.isExcluded(Plain.class)).isFalse();
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	void byAnnotationWhenSuperclassIsAnnotatedWithInheritedAnnotationExcludes() {
+		MethodValidationExcludeFilter filter = MethodValidationExcludeFilter.byAnnotation(Indicator.class);
+		assertThat(filter.isExcluded(AnnotatedSuperClass.class)).isTrue();
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void byAnnotationWithDirectSearchStrategyWhenSuperclassIsAnnotatedWithInheritedAnnotationIncludes() {
+		MethodValidationExcludeFilter filter = MethodValidationExcludeFilter.byAnnotation(Indicator.class,
+				SearchStrategy.DIRECT);
+		assertThat(filter.isExcluded(AnnotatedSuperClass.class)).isFalse();
+	}
+
 	static class Plain {
 
 	}
@@ -51,9 +67,14 @@ static class Annotated {
 
 	}
 
+	@Inherited
 	@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
 	@interface Indicator {
 
 	}
 
+	static class AnnotatedSuperClass extends Annotated {
+
+	}
+
 }