diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/AnnotationDriver.php b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/AnnotationDriver.php
index 30f664104..b069364ab 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/AnnotationDriver.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/AnnotationDriver.php
@@ -435,6 +435,14 @@ class AnnotationDriver extends AbstractAnnotationDriver
                     }
                 }
             }
+
+            // evaluate as lifecycle callback if the listener class is not given.
+            if(empty($entityListenersAnnot->value)) {
+                /* @var $method \Doctrine\ORM\Mapping\LifecycleCallback */
+                foreach ($entityListenersAnnot->callbacks as $callback) {
+                    $metadata->addLifecycleCallback($callback->method, $callback->event);
+                }
+            }
         }
 
         // Evaluate @HasLifecycleCallbacks annotation
diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/DoctrineAnnotations.php b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/DoctrineAnnotations.php
index dc577d5c0..9a5f33448 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/DoctrineAnnotations.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/Driver/DoctrineAnnotations.php
@@ -65,3 +65,4 @@ require_once __DIR__.'/../AssociationOverrides.php';
 require_once __DIR__.'/../AttributeOverride.php';
 require_once __DIR__.'/../AttributeOverrides.php';
 require_once __DIR__.'/../EntityListeners.php';
+require_once __DIR__.'/../LifecycleCallback.php';
diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/EntityListeners.php b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/EntityListeners.php
index 3d08b2dc3..eef6fc43b 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/EntityListeners.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/EntityListeners.php
@@ -37,5 +37,12 @@ final class EntityListeners implements Annotation
      *
      * @var array<string>
      */
-    public $value;
+    public $value = array();
+
+    /**
+     * Specifies the entity the entity lifecycle callbacks.
+     *
+     * @var array<\Doctrine\ORM\Mapping\LifecycleCallback>
+     */
+    public $callbacks = array();
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/LifecycleCallback.php b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/LifecycleCallback.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b1b39585
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Mapping/LifecycleCallback.php
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many individuals
+ * and is licensed under the MIT license. For more information, see
+ * <http://www.doctrine-project.org>.
+ */
+
+namespace Doctrine\ORM\Mapping;
+
+/**
+ * @author  Fabio B. Silva <fabio.bat.silva@gmail.com>
+ * @since   2.4
+ *
+ * @Annotation
+ * @Target("ANNOTATION")
+ */
+final class LifecycleCallback implements Annotation
+{
+    /**
+     * @var string
+     */
+    public $event;
+
+    /**
+     * @var string
+     */
+    public $method;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/Models/Company/CompanyPerson.php b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/Models/Company/CompanyPerson.php
index 4636fa4e3..0d6a175ad 100644
--- a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/Models/Company/CompanyPerson.php
+++ b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/Models/Company/CompanyPerson.php
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ namespace Doctrine\Tests\Models\Company;
  *      "manager"   = "CompanyManager",
  *      "employee"  = "CompanyEmployee"
  * })
+ * @EntityListeners(callbacks = {
+ *      @LifecycleCallback(\Doctrine\ORM\Events::prePersist, method = "prePersistHandler")
+ * })
  *
  * @NamedNativeQueries({
  *      @NamedNativeQuery(
@@ -79,6 +82,8 @@ class CompanyPerson
      */
     private $friends;
 
+    public $prePersistHandlerCalls = array();
+
     public function __construct() {
         $this->friends = new \Doctrine\Common\Collections\ArrayCollection;
     }
@@ -117,6 +122,12 @@ class CompanyPerson
         }
     }
 
+    public function prePersistHandler($event)
+    {
+        $this->prePersistHandlerCalls[] = $event;
+    }
+
+
     public static function loadMetadata(\Doctrine\ORM\Mapping\ClassMetadataInfo $metadata)
     {
 
diff --git a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/ORM/Functional/LifecycleCallbackTest.php b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/ORM/Functional/LifecycleCallbackTest.php
index 589b91ee5..4a740ceca 100644
--- a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/ORM/Functional/LifecycleCallbackTest.php
+++ b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/ORM/Functional/LifecycleCallbackTest.php
@@ -254,6 +254,23 @@ class LifecycleCallbackTest extends \Doctrine\Tests\OrmFunctionalTestCase
             $e->calls['postRemoveHandler']
         );
     }
+    /**
+    * @group DDC-1955
+    */
+    public function testEventListenersLifecycleCallback()
+    {
+        $e = new \Doctrine\Tests\Models\Company\CompanyPerson;
+        $e->setName('Fabio B. Silva');
+        
+        $this->_em->persist($e);
+        $this->_em->flush();
+
+        $this->assertCount(1, $e->prePersistHandlerCalls);
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(
+            'Doctrine\ORM\Event\LifecycleEventArgs',
+            $e->prePersistHandlerCalls[0]
+        );
+    }
 }
 
 /** @Entity @HasLifecycleCallbacks */