diff --git a/maven-toolchain/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/toolchain/ToolchainManager.java b/maven-toolchain/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/toolchain/ToolchainManager.java
index 65c3c0b77f..fe8117624f 100644
--- a/maven-toolchain/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/toolchain/ToolchainManager.java
+++ b/maven-toolchain/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/toolchain/ToolchainManager.java
@@ -28,9 +28,13 @@ import org.apache.maven.execution.MavenSession;
  */
 public interface ToolchainManager
 {
+
+    // NOTE: Some plugins like Surefire access this field directly!
+    String ROLE = ToolchainManager.class.getName();
+
     /**
      * to be used from plugins capable of working with toolchains.
      */
     Toolchain getToolchainFromBuildContext( String type,
                                             MavenSession context );
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}