diff --git a/colcon_core/argument_parser/__init__.py b/colcon_core/argument_parser/__init__.py
index e2b9045c..e5161bb7 100644
--- a/colcon_core/argument_parser/__init__.py
+++ b/colcon_core/argument_parser/__init__.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 import traceback
 import types
+import warnings
 
 from colcon_core.logging import colcon_logger
 from colcon_core.plugin_system import instantiate_extensions
@@ -108,11 +109,23 @@ def __init__(self, parser, **kwargs):
         """
         assert '_parser' not in kwargs
         kwargs['_parser'] = parser
-        assert '_nested_decorators' not in kwargs
-        kwargs['_nested_decorators'] = []
+        assert '_nested_decorators_' not in kwargs
+        kwargs['_nested_decorators_'] = []
+        assert '_group_decorators' not in kwargs
+        kwargs['_group_decorators'] = []
+        assert '_recursive_decorators' not in kwargs
+        kwargs['_recursive_decorators'] = []
         for k, v in kwargs.items():
             self.__dict__[k] = v
 
+    @property
+    def _nested_decorators(self):
+        warnings.warn(
+            'colcon_core.argument_parser.ArgumentParserDecorator.'
+            '_nested_decorators is a private variable and has been '
+            'deprecated', stacklevel=2)
+        return self._nested_decorators_
+
     def __getattr__(self, name):
         """
         Get an attribute from this decorator if it exists or the decoree.
@@ -157,7 +170,8 @@ def add_argument_group(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         group = self.__class__(
             self._parser.add_argument_group(*args, **kwargs))
-        self._nested_decorators.append(group)
+        self._nested_decorators_.append(group)
+        self._group_decorators.append(group)
         return group
 
     def add_mutually_exclusive_group(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -169,7 +183,8 @@ def add_mutually_exclusive_group(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         group = self.__class__(
             self._parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(*args, **kwargs))
-        self._nested_decorators.append(group)
+        self._nested_decorators_.append(group)
+        self._group_decorators.append(group)
         return group
 
     def add_parser(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -181,7 +196,8 @@ def add_parser(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         parser = self.__class__(
             self._parser.add_parser(*args, **kwargs))
-        self._nested_decorators.append(parser)
+        self._nested_decorators_.append(parser)
+        self._recursive_decorators.append(parser)
         return parser
 
     def add_subparsers(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -193,7 +209,8 @@ def add_subparsers(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         subparser = self.__class__(
             self._parser.add_subparsers(*args, **kwargs))
-        self._nested_decorators.append(subparser)
+        self._nested_decorators_.append(subparser)
+        self._recursive_decorators.append(subparser)
         return subparser
 
 
diff --git a/colcon_core/argument_parser/destination_collector.py b/colcon_core/argument_parser/destination_collector.py
index 52a542a7..55e729f7 100644
--- a/colcon_core/argument_parser/destination_collector.py
+++ b/colcon_core/argument_parser/destination_collector.py
@@ -22,17 +22,23 @@ def __init__(self, parser, **kwargs):
             _destinations=OrderedDict(),
             **kwargs)
 
-    def get_destinations(self):
+    def get_destinations(self, *, recursive=True):
         """
         Get destinations for all added arguments.
 
+        :param bool recursive: The flag if destinations from added parsers /
+          subparsers should be included, destinations from grouped arguments
+          are always included
         :returns: The destination names
         :rtype: OrderedDict
         """
         destinations = OrderedDict()
         destinations.update(self._destinations)
-        for d in self._nested_decorators:
+        for d in self._group_decorators:
             destinations.update(d.get_destinations())
+        if recursive:
+            for d in self._recursive_decorators:
+                destinations.update(d.get_destinations())
         return destinations
 
     def add_argument(self, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/test/spell_check.words b/test/spell_check.words
index cceac5b8..614b2c4c 100644
--- a/test/spell_check.words
+++ b/test/spell_check.words
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ setuppy
 setuptools
 sigint
 stdeb
+subparser
 subparsers
 symlink
 sysconfig
diff --git a/test/test_destination_collector.py b/test/test_destination_collector.py
index 615d4a71..0d4e18cd 100644
--- a/test/test_destination_collector.py
+++ b/test/test_destination_collector.py
@@ -21,3 +21,12 @@ def test_destination_collector_decorator():
     group.add_argument('--other-option', action='store_true')
     assert decorator.get_destinations() == OrderedDict([
         ('option', 'option'), ('other-option', 'other_option')])
+
+    subparser = decorator.add_subparsers(title='subs', dest='dest')
+    parser = subparser.add_parser('parser')
+    parser.add_argument('--another-option', action='store_true')
+    assert decorator.get_destinations() == OrderedDict([
+        ('option', 'option'), ('other-option', 'other_option'),
+        ('another-option', 'another_option')])
+    assert decorator.get_destinations(recursive=False) == OrderedDict([
+        ('option', 'option'), ('other-option', 'other_option')])