diff --git a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/Configuration.java b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/Configuration.java
index 1bb1a48555..2b6a499d4d 100644
--- a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/Configuration.java
+++ b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/Configuration.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package org.apache.maven.embedder;
  * under the License.
  */
 
+import org.codehaus.plexus.PlexusContainer;
 import org.codehaus.plexus.classworlds.ClassWorld;
 
 import java.io.File;
@@ -76,6 +77,10 @@ public interface Configuration
 
     Configuration setClassLoader( ClassLoader loader );
 
+    PlexusContainer getParentContainer();
+
+    Configuration setParentContainer( PlexusContainer parentContainer );
+
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Profiles
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -120,5 +125,5 @@ public interface Configuration
 
     void addExtension( URL url );
 
-    List getExtensions();    
+    List getExtensions();
 }
diff --git a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/DefaultConfiguration.java b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/DefaultConfiguration.java
index a65b4082ee..cf878a4a40 100644
--- a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/DefaultConfiguration.java
+++ b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/DefaultConfiguration.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package org.apache.maven.embedder;
  * under the License.
  */
 
+import org.codehaus.plexus.PlexusContainer;
 import org.codehaus.plexus.classworlds.ClassWorld;
 
 import java.io.File;
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ public class DefaultConfiguration
 
     private ClassWorld classWorld;
 
+    private PlexusContainer parentContainer;
+
     private File localRepository;
 
     /** Creates a new instance of DefaultConfiguration */
@@ -189,6 +192,17 @@ public class DefaultConfiguration
         return this;
     }
 
+    public PlexusContainer getParentContainer()
+    {
+        return parentContainer;
+    }
+
+    public Configuration setParentContainer( PlexusContainer parentContainer )
+    {
+        this.parentContainer = parentContainer;
+        return this;
+    }
+
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Local Repository
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/MavenEmbedder.java b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/MavenEmbedder.java
index 1df4e32ebd..665f5dfc54 100644
--- a/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/MavenEmbedder.java
+++ b/maven-embedder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/embedder/MavenEmbedder.java
@@ -494,17 +494,17 @@ public class MavenEmbedder
     {
         return getBuildLifecyclePhases();
     }
-    
+
     public List getAllLifecyclePhases()
     {
         return LifecycleUtils.getValidPhaseNames();
     }
-    
+
     public List getDefaultLifecyclePhases()
     {
         return getBuildLifecyclePhases();
     }
-    
+
     public List getBuildLifecyclePhases()
     {
         return LifecycleUtils.getValidBuildPhaseNames();
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ public class MavenEmbedder
         try
         {
             ContainerConfiguration cc = new DefaultContainerConfiguration()
-                .setClassWorld( classWorld );
+                .setClassWorld( classWorld ).setParentContainer( configuration.getParentContainer() );
 
             container = new DefaultPlexusContainer( cc );
         }
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ public class MavenEmbedder
 
     /**
      * Return the instance of the plexus container being used in the embedder.
-     *  
+     *
      * @return The plexus container used in the embedder.
      */
     public PlexusContainer getPlexusContainer()