diff --git a/maven-plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/TestCompilerMojo.java b/maven-plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/TestCompilerMojo.java
index 74c26e67ac..f3a8646385 100644
--- a/maven-plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/TestCompilerMojo.java
+++ b/maven-plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/TestCompilerMojo.java
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ import java.util.Set;
 public class TestCompilerMojo
     extends AbstractCompilerMojo
 {
+    /**
+     * Set this to 'true' to bypass unit tests entirely.
+     * Its use is NOT RECOMMENDED, but quite convenient on occasion.
+     *
+     * @parameter expression="${maven.test.skip}"
+     */
+    private boolean skip;
+
     /**
      * The source directories containing the test-source to be compiled.
      *
@@ -78,6 +86,20 @@ public class TestCompilerMojo
      */
     private Set testExcludes = new HashSet();
 
+    public void execute()
+        throws MojoExecutionException
+    {
+        if ( skip )
+        {
+            getLog().info( "Not compiling test sources" );
+            return;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            super.execute();
+        }
+    }
+
     protected List getCompileSourceRoots()
     {
         return compileSourceRoots;