diff --git a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/env/CompositePropertySource.java b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/env/CompositePropertySource.java
index 4c0553f0e4a..1723a54bd32 100644
--- a/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/env/CompositePropertySource.java
+++ b/spring-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/env/CompositePropertySource.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2023 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2025 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.
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
  *
  * <p>As of Spring 4.1.2, this class extends {@link EnumerablePropertySource} instead
  * of plain {@link PropertySource}, exposing {@link #getPropertyNames()} based on the
- * accumulated property names from all contained sources (as far as possible).
+ * accumulated property names from all contained sources - and failing with an
+ * {@code IllegalStateException} against any non-{@code EnumerablePropertySource}.
+ * <b>When used through the {@code EnumerablePropertySource} contract, all contained
+ * sources are expected to be of type {@code EnumerablePropertySource} as well.</b>
  *
  * @author Chris Beams
  * @author Juergen Hoeller