diff --git a/maven-core-it-verifier/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/it/Verifier.java b/maven-core-it-verifier/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/it/Verifier.java
index 7b2e55ac12..0517dd9ce6 100644
--- a/maven-core-it-verifier/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/it/Verifier.java
+++ b/maven-core-it-verifier/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/it/Verifier.java
@@ -736,7 +736,10 @@ public void executeGoals( Properties properties, Properties controlProperties, S
     private String resolveCommandLineArg( String key )
     {
         String result = key.replaceAll( "\\$\\{basedir\\}", basedir );
-        result = result.replaceAll( "\\\\", "\\" );
+        if ( result.indexOf( "\\\\" ) >= 0 )
+        {
+            result = result.replaceAll( "\\\\", "\\" );
+        }
         result = result.replaceAll( "\\/\\/", "\\/" );
 
         return result;