diff --git a/rql/query/src/main/java/org/eclipse/ditto/rql/query/things/ExistsThingPredicateVisitor.java b/rql/query/src/main/java/org/eclipse/ditto/rql/query/things/ExistsThingPredicateVisitor.java
index 478c4d8504..387c34c5e0 100644
--- a/rql/query/src/main/java/org/eclipse/ditto/rql/query/things/ExistsThingPredicateVisitor.java
+++ b/rql/query/src/main/java/org/eclipse/ditto/rql/query/things/ExistsThingPredicateVisitor.java
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ public Predicate<Thing> visitFeatureProperties(final CharSequence featureId) {
     public Predicate<Thing> visitFeatureDesiredProperties(final CharSequence featureId) {
         return thing -> thing.getFeatures()
                 .flatMap(features -> features.getFeature(featureId.toString()))
-                .map(feature -> feature.getProperties().isPresent())
+                .map(feature -> feature.getDesiredProperties().isPresent())
                 .orElse(false);
     }