A magnet cradle for supporting a permanent magnet in an overhung recessed slot on the surface of a permanent magnet rotor having an axis of rotation. The cradle is non-magnetic and comprises a top and bottom wall abutting the permanent magnet. The cradle is sized to hold the permanent magnet within the overhung slots. Axial end walls generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation have circumferential edges configured to directly abut overhung portions of the slots. The total axial length of the top and bottom walls of the cradles in the axial direction are greater that the total axial length of the magnet, thereby permitting a magnet to fit between the axial end walls of the cradle without the cradle in the magnetic flux path of the magnet.