I just have a same problem with 5.2.1.Final.
{{
@PreUpdate
@AssertFalse
boolean hasCyclicReference() {
for (T parent = getParent(); parent != null;
parent = parent.getParent()) {
if (parent.getId().equals(getId())) {
logger.log(Level.SEVERE,
"cyclic reference; current:

; ascendant:

",
new Object[]

);
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
}}
All I had to is make it package default.