diff --git a/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelBuilder.java b/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelBuilder.java
index 9c151f789b..5cb78b287f 100644
--- a/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelBuilder.java
+++ b/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelBuilder.java
@@ -300,17 +300,32 @@ public class DefaultModelBuilder
 
             Map<String, ?> options = Collections.singletonMap( ModelProcessor.IS_STRICT, Boolean.valueOf( strict ) );
 
-            model = modelProcessor.read( modelSource.getInputStream(), options );
+            try
+            {
+                model = modelProcessor.read( modelSource.getInputStream(), options );
+            }
+            catch ( ModelParseException e )
+            {
+                if ( !strict || pomFile != null )
+                {
+                    throw e;
+                }
+
+                options = Collections.singletonMap( ModelProcessor.IS_STRICT, Boolean.FALSE );
+
+                model = modelProcessor.read( modelSource.getInputStream(), options );
+
+                problems.addWarning( "Malformed POM " + modelSource.getLocation() + ": " + e.getMessage(), e );
+            }
         }
         catch ( ModelParseException e )
         {
-            problems.addFatalError( "Non-parseable POM " + modelSource.getLocation() + ": " + e.getMessage(),
-                                    e.getLineNumber(), e.getColumnNumber(), e );
+            problems.addFatalError( "Non-parseable POM " + modelSource.getLocation() + ": " + e.getMessage(), e );
             throw new ModelBuildingException( problems.getRootModelId(), problems.getProblems() );
         }
         catch ( IOException e )
         {
-            problems.addFatalError( "Non-readable POM " + modelSource.getLocation() + ": " + e.getMessage(), -1, -1, e );
+            problems.addFatalError( "Non-readable POM " + modelSource.getLocation() + ": " + e.getMessage(), e );
             throw new ModelBuildingException( problems.getRootModelId(), problems.getProblems() );
         }
 
@@ -552,7 +567,7 @@ public class DefaultModelBuilder
         catch ( UnresolvableModelException e )
         {
             problems.addFatalError( "Non-resolvable parent POM "
-                + ModelProblemUtils.toId( groupId, artifactId, version ) + ": " + e.getMessage(), -1, -1, e );
+                + ModelProblemUtils.toId( groupId, artifactId, version ) + ": " + e.getMessage(), e );
             throw new ModelBuildingException( problems.getRootModelId(), problems.getProblems() );
         }
 
diff --git a/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelProblemCollector.java b/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelProblemCollector.java
index 7b417ba2ef..499e27a40e 100644
--- a/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelProblemCollector.java
+++ b/maven-model-builder/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/model/building/DefaultModelProblemCollector.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
 import org.apache.maven.model.Model;
+import org.apache.maven.model.io.ModelParseException;
 
 /**
  * Collects problems that are encountered during model building. The primary purpose of this component is to account for
@@ -106,8 +107,18 @@ class DefaultModelProblemCollector
         problems.addAll( problems );
     }
 
-    public void addFatalError( String message, int line, int column, Exception cause )
+    public void addFatalError( String message, Exception cause )
     {
+        int line = -1;
+        int column = -1;
+
+        if ( cause instanceof ModelParseException )
+        {
+            ModelParseException e = (ModelParseException) cause;
+            line = e.getLineNumber();
+            column = e.getColumnNumber();
+        }
+
         add( message, ModelProblem.Severity.FATAL, line, column, cause );
     }
 
@@ -118,7 +129,17 @@ class DefaultModelProblemCollector
 
     public void addError( String message, Exception cause )
     {
-        add( message, ModelProblem.Severity.ERROR, -1, -1, cause );
+        int line = -1;
+        int column = -1;
+
+        if ( cause instanceof ModelParseException )
+        {
+            ModelParseException e = (ModelParseException) cause;
+            line = e.getLineNumber();
+            column = e.getColumnNumber();
+        }
+
+        add( message, ModelProblem.Severity.ERROR, line, column, cause );
     }
 
     public void addWarning( String message )
@@ -128,7 +149,17 @@ class DefaultModelProblemCollector
 
     public void addWarning( String message, Exception cause )
     {
-        add( message, ModelProblem.Severity.WARNING, -1, -1, cause );
+        int line = -1;
+        int column = -1;
+
+        if ( cause instanceof ModelParseException )
+        {
+            ModelParseException e = (ModelParseException) cause;
+            line = e.getLineNumber();
+            column = e.getColumnNumber();
+        }
+
+        add( message, ModelProblem.Severity.WARNING, line, column, cause );
     }
 
     private void add( String message, ModelProblem.Severity severity, int line, int column, Exception cause )