diff --git a/maven-xml-impl/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/internal/xml/XmlNodeImpl.java b/maven-xml-impl/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/internal/xml/XmlNodeImpl.java
index d1355d455c..7dbfc8344e 100644
--- a/maven-xml-impl/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/internal/xml/XmlNodeImpl.java
+++ b/maven-xml-impl/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/internal/xml/XmlNodeImpl.java
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ public class XmlNodeImpl implements Serializable, XmlNode {
 
             for (Map.Entry<String, String> attr : recessive.getAttributes().entrySet()) {
                 String key = attr.getKey();
-                if (isEmpty(dominant.getAttribute(key)) && !SELF_COMBINATION_MODE_ATTRIBUTE.equals(key)) {
+                if (isEmpty(dominant.getAttribute(key))) {
                     if (attrs == null) {
                         attrs = new HashMap<>();
                     }