diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/DefaultPluginManager.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/DefaultPluginManager.java
index e00f30f9e3..dda5ca8e02 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/DefaultPluginManager.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/DefaultPluginManager.java
@@ -269,7 +269,9 @@ protected void addPlugin( Plugin plugin,
         {
             projectPlugin = plugin;
         }
-        else if ( projectPlugin.getVersion() == null )
+        else if ( projectPlugin.getVersion() == null || 
+                  Artifact.RELEASE_VERSION.equals(projectPlugin.getVersion()) || 
+                  Artifact.LATEST_VERSION.equals(projectPlugin.getVersion()))
         {
             projectPlugin.setVersion( plugin.getVersion() );
         }