diff --git a/its/README.md b/its/README.md
index 4cc36608e6..ea8d7fc1d4 100644
--- a/its/README.md
+++ b/its/README.md
@@ -24,7 +24,17 @@ Maven Core Integration Tests
 If you want to run the integration tests against a custom build of Maven use the following command:
 
 ```
-mvn clean install -Prun-its -Dmaven.repo.local=`pwd`/repo -DmavenDistro=/path/to/apache-maven-dist.zip
+export MAVENCODEBASE=<path-to-maven-codebase>
+```
+
+You can choose to build the maven project from here with:
+```
+mvn verify -P local-it -f "$MAVENCODEBASE"
+```
+
+Now run (don't forget to update the versions!)
+```
+mvn clean install -Prun-its,embdedded -Dmaven.repo.local=`pwd`/repo  -DmavenDistro="$MAVENCODEBASE\apache-maven\target\apache-maven-<VERSION>-bin.zip" -DwrapperDistroDir="$MAVENCODEBASE\apache-maven\target" -DmavenWrapper="$MAVENCODEBASE\maven-wrapper\target\maven-wrapper-<VERSION>.jar"
 ```
 
 or if behind a proxy
diff --git a/its/run-its.bat b/its/run-its.bat
index 00456942dc..ce055c192f 100644
--- a/its/run-its.bat
+++ b/its/run-its.bat
@@ -17,10 +17,15 @@
 @REM under the License.
 @REM
 
-@REM How JvZ runs the ITs from a clean slate if it would be on Windows
-
-mvn clean install -U -Prun-its,embedded -Dmaven.repo.local=%cd%\repo
+@ECHO OFF
+if  "%MAVENCODEBASE%" == "" (
+ echo Please set MAVENCODEBASE
+ @ECHO ON
+) else (
+ @ECHO ON
+ mvn verify -Plocal-it -f "%MAVENCODEBASE%"
+ mvn clean install -Prun-its,embdedded -Dmaven.repo.local="%cd%\repo"  -DmavenDistro="%MAVENCODEBASE%\apache-maven\target\apache-maven-bin.zip" -DwrapperDistroDir="%MAVENCODEBASE%\apache-maven\target" -DmavenWrapper="%MAVENCODEBASE%\maven-wrapper\target\maven-wrapper.jar"
+)
 
 @REM If behind a proxy try this..
-
 @REM mvn clean install -Prun-its,embedded -Dmaven.repo.local=%cd%\repo -Dproxy.host=<host> -Dproxy.port=<port> -Dproxy.user= -Dproxy.pass= -Dproxy.nonProxyHosts=<hosts>
diff --git a/its/run-its.sh b/its/run-its.sh
index d13fce614a..050a61737b 100755
--- a/its/run-its.sh
+++ b/its/run-its.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,13 @@
 
 # How I run the ITs from a clean slate. Though I do this with a primed Nexus instance. JvZ.
 
-mvn clean install -Prun-its,embedded -Dmaven.repo.local=`pwd`/repo
+if [ -z "$MAVENCODEBASE" ] ; then
+ echo Please export MAVENCODEBASE
+else
+ mvn verify -P local-it -f "$MAVENCODEBASE"
+ mvn clean test -Prun-its,embdedded -Dmaven.repo.local=`pwd`/repo  -DmavenDistro="$MAVENCODEBASE\apache-maven\target\apache-maven-bin.zip" -DwrapperDistroDir="$MAVENCODEBASE\apache-maven\target" -DmavenWrapper="$MAVENCODEBASE\maven-wrapper\target\maven-wrapper.jar"
+fi
+
 
 # If behind a proxy try this