diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/internal/DefaultMavenPluginManager.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/internal/DefaultMavenPluginManager.java
index 9ed07f4cdd..6d70e796f4 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/internal/DefaultMavenPluginManager.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/internal/DefaultMavenPluginManager.java
@@ -636,9 +636,14 @@ public class DefaultMavenPluginManager
         }
         catch ( ComponentConfigurationException e )
         {
-            throw new PluginConfigurationException( mojoDescriptor.getPluginDescriptor(),
-                                                    "Unable to parse configuration of mojo " + mojoDescriptor.getId()
-                                                        + ": " + e.getMessage(), e );
+            String message = "Unable to parse configuration of mojo " + mojoDescriptor.getId();
+            if ( e.getFailedConfiguration() != null )
+            {
+                message += " for parameter " + e.getFailedConfiguration().getName();
+            }
+            message += ": " + e.getMessage();
+
+            throw new PluginConfigurationException( mojoDescriptor.getPluginDescriptor(), message, e );
         }
         catch ( ComponentLookupException e )
         {