diff --git a/its/core-it-support/core-it-plugins/maven-it-plugin-plugin-dependency/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/coreit/DerivedItMojo.java b/its/core-it-support/core-it-plugins/maven-it-plugin-plugin-dependency/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/coreit/DerivedItMojo.java
index 0b852a00a7..ee8078c773 100644
--- a/its/core-it-support/core-it-plugins/maven-it-plugin-plugin-dependency/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/coreit/DerivedItMojo.java
+++ b/its/core-it-support/core-it-plugins/maven-it-plugin-plugin-dependency/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/coreit/DerivedItMojo.java
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import java.io.File;
 
 /**
  * @goal test
- *
  * @phase process-sources
  */
 public class DerivedItMojo
@@ -44,7 +43,10 @@ public class DerivedItMojo
     public void execute()
         throws MojoFailureException, MojoExecutionException
     {
-        super.setOutputFile( file );
+        if ( file != null )
+        {
+            super.setOutputFile( file );
+        }
 
         super.execute();
     }