diff --git a/sphinx/environment.py b/sphinx/environment.py
index 88e9f99d7..a3eecbcb2 100644
--- a/sphinx/environment.py
+++ b/sphinx/environment.py
@@ -1590,6 +1590,8 @@ class BuildEnvironment:
         else:
             if name in self.descrefs:
                 newname = name
+            elif classname and classname + '.' + name in self.descrefs:
+                newname = classname + '.' + name
             elif modname and modname + '.' + name in self.descrefs:
                 newname = modname + '.' + name
             elif modname and classname and \