diff --git a/maven-plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/AbstractCompilerMojo.java b/maven-plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/AbstractCompilerMojo.java
index ba08959875..fc668a5c7c 100644
--- a/maven-plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/AbstractCompilerMojo.java
+++ b/maven-plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/AbstractCompilerMojo.java
@@ -110,6 +110,13 @@ public abstract class AbstractCompilerMojo
      */
     private String compilerId;
 
+    /**
+     * Version of the compiler to use, ex. "1.3", "1.5"
+     *
+     * @parameter
+     */
+    private String compilerVersion;
+
     /**
      * Runs the compiler in a separate process.
      * <p/>
@@ -248,6 +255,8 @@ public abstract class AbstractCompilerMojo
 
         compilerConfiguration.setWorkingDirectory( basedir );
 
+        compilerConfiguration.setCompilerVersion( compilerVersion );
+
         compilerConfiguration.setBuildDirectory( buildDirectory );
 
         compilerConfiguration.setOutputFileName( outputFileName );
@@ -265,7 +274,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractCompilerMojo
             canUpdateTarget = compiler.canUpdateTarget( compilerConfiguration );
 
             if ( compiler.getCompilerOutputStyle() == CompilerOutputStyle.ONE_OUTPUT_FILE_FOR_ALL_INPUT_FILES &&
-                !canUpdateTarget )
+                 !canUpdateTarget )
             {
                 getLog().info( "RESCANNING!" );
                 // TODO: This second scan for source files is sub-optimal