diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/execution/DefaultMavenExecutionRequest.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/execution/DefaultMavenExecutionRequest.java
index c2fa26773d..9adece588d 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/execution/DefaultMavenExecutionRequest.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/execution/DefaultMavenExecutionRequest.java
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ public class DefaultMavenExecutionRequest
 
     private boolean usePluginUpdateOverride;
 
+    private boolean isProjectPresent;
+
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Request
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -517,4 +519,16 @@ public class DefaultMavenExecutionRequest
 
         return this;
     }
+
+    public boolean isProjectPresent()
+    {
+        return isProjectPresent;
+    }
+
+    public MavenExecutionRequest setProjectPresent( boolean projectPresent )
+    {
+        isProjectPresent = projectPresent;
+
+        return this;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/execution/MavenExecutionRequest.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/execution/MavenExecutionRequest.java
index 2ad84b4bac..75d84cfc4e 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/execution/MavenExecutionRequest.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/execution/MavenExecutionRequest.java
@@ -186,4 +186,7 @@ public interface MavenExecutionRequest
 
     ProfileManager getProfileManager();
     MavenExecutionRequest setProfileManager( ProfileManager profileManager );
+
+    boolean isProjectPresent();
+    MavenExecutionRequest setProjectPresent( boolean isProjectPresent );
 }