diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/DefaultMaven.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/DefaultMaven.java
index 4721563ff5..422de85dc8 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/DefaultMaven.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/DefaultMaven.java
@@ -181,23 +181,26 @@ public MavenExecutionResult execute( MavenExecutionRequest request )
             reactorManager,
             dispatcher );
 
-        for ( Iterator i = request.getGoals().iterator(); i.hasNext(); )
+        if ( request.getGoals() != null )
         {
-            String goal = (String) i.next();
-
-            if ( goal == null )
+            for ( Iterator i = request.getGoals().iterator(); i.hasNext(); )
             {
-                i.remove();
-                continue;
-            }
+                String goal = (String) i.next();
 
-            TaskValidationResult tvr = lifecycleExecutor.isTaskValid( goal, session, reactorManager.getTopLevelProject() );
+                if ( goal == null )
+                {
+                    i.remove();
+                    continue;
+                }
 
-            if ( !tvr.isTaskValid() )
-            {
-                result.addException( tvr.generateInvalidTaskException() );
+                TaskValidationResult tvr = lifecycleExecutor.isTaskValid( goal, session, reactorManager.getTopLevelProject() );
 
-                return result;
+                if ( !tvr.isTaskValid() )
+                {
+                    result.addException( tvr.generateInvalidTaskException() );
+
+                    return result;
+                }
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/lifecycle/DefaultLifecycleExecutor.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/lifecycle/DefaultLifecycleExecutor.java
index b0f966398e..7e648b8b90 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/lifecycle/DefaultLifecycleExecutor.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/lifecycle/DefaultLifecycleExecutor.java
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ public void execute( final MavenSession session,
 
         List goals = session.getGoals();
 
-        if ( goals.isEmpty() && ( rootProject != null ) )
+        if ( ( ( goals == null ) || goals.isEmpty() ) && ( rootProject != null ) )
         {
             String goal = rootProject.getDefaultGoal();
 
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ public void execute( final MavenSession session,
             }
         }
 
-        if ( goals.isEmpty() )
+        if ( ( goals == null ) || goals.isEmpty() )
         {
             throw new NoGoalsSpecifiedException( "\n\nYou must specify at least one goal. Try 'install' to build or mvn -? for other options.\n See http://maven.apache.org for more information.\n\n" );
         }