diff --git a/maven-model-builder/src/test/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelBuilderFactoryTest.java b/maven-model-builder/src/test/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelBuilderFactoryTest.java
index f85996d94b..142e062768 100644
--- a/maven-model-builder/src/test/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelBuilderFactoryTest.java
+++ b/maven-model-builder/src/test/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelBuilderFactoryTest.java
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ package org.apache.maven.model.building;
 
 import java.io.File;
 
+import org.codehaus.plexus.util.xml.Xpp3Dom;
+
 import junit.framework.TestCase;
 
 /**
@@ -49,6 +51,10 @@ public class DefaultModelBuilderFactoryTest
         assertNotNull( result );
         assertNotNull( result.getEffectiveModel() );
         assertEquals( "activated", result.getEffectiveModel().getProperties().get( "profile.file" ) );
+        Xpp3Dom conf = (Xpp3Dom) result.getEffectiveModel().getBuild().getPlugins().get( 0 ).getConfiguration();
+        System.out.println( conf );
+        assertEquals( "1.5", conf.getChild( "source" ).getValue() );
+        assertEquals( "  1.5  ", conf.getChild( "target" ).getValue() );
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/maven-model-builder/src/test/resources/poms/factory/simple.xml b/maven-model-builder/src/test/resources/poms/factory/simple.xml
index 8912298a07..71900731c9 100644
--- a/maven-model-builder/src/test/resources/poms/factory/simple.xml
+++ b/maven-model-builder/src/test/resources/poms/factory/simple.xml
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ under the License.
           <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
           <version>2.1</version>
           <configuration>
-            <source>1.5</source>
-            <target>1.5</target>
+            <source>  1.5  </source>
+            <target xml:space="preserve">  1.5  </target>
           </configuration>
         </plugin>
       </plugins>