diff --git a/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/interpolation/StringSearchModelInterpolator.java b/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/interpolation/StringSearchModelInterpolator.java
index af4d1050ba..93e53b7e54 100644
--- a/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/interpolation/StringSearchModelInterpolator.java
+++ b/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/interpolation/StringSearchModelInterpolator.java
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ public class StringSearchModelInterpolator
 
                 String interpolated = ctx.interpolate( value );
 
-                if ( !interpolated.equals( value ) )
+                if ( interpolated != null && !interpolated.equals( value ) )
                 {
                     field.set( target, interpolated );
                 }
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ public class StringSearchModelInterpolator
                     {
                         String interpolated = ctx.interpolate( (String) value );
 
-                        if ( !interpolated.equals( value ) )
+                        if ( interpolated != null && !interpolated.equals( value ) )
                         {
                             try
                             {