diff --git a/maven-plugins/maven-jar-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/jar/JarMojo.java b/maven-plugins/maven-jar-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/jar/JarMojo.java
index 5da4f3fc50..3911d1b547 100644
--- a/maven-plugins/maven-jar-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/jar/JarMojo.java
+++ b/maven-plugins/maven-jar-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/jar/JarMojo.java
@@ -159,7 +159,15 @@ public void execute()
 
         try
         {
-            archiver.getArchiver().addDirectory( new File( outputDirectory ), DEFAULT_INCLUDES, DEFAULT_EXCLUDES );
+            File contentDirectory = new File( outputDirectory );
+            if ( !contentDirectory.exists() )
+            {
+                getLog().warn( "JAR will be empty - no content was marked for inclusion!" );
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                archiver.getArchiver().addDirectory( contentDirectory, DEFAULT_INCLUDES, DEFAULT_EXCLUDES );
+            }
 
             // create archive
             Manifest configuredManifest = archiver.getManifest( project, mainClass, packageName,