diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/PluginParameterException.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/PluginParameterException.java
index 8e6e5596bb..dafe73b848 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/PluginParameterException.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/PluginParameterException.java
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public class PluginParameterException
                 param.getName() + ">\n</configuration>" );
 
             String alias = param.getAlias();
-            if ( StringUtils.isNotEmpty( alias ) )
+            if ( StringUtils.isNotEmpty( alias ) && !alias.equals( param.getName() ) )
             {
                 messageBuffer.append(
                     "\n\n-OR-\n\n<configuration>\n  ...\n  <" + alias + ">VALUE</" + alias + ">\n</configuration>\n" );