diff --git a/maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/builder/Interpolator.java b/maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/builder/Interpolator.java
index 48593b08ee..ffe3171a16 100644
--- a/maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/builder/Interpolator.java
+++ b/maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/builder/Interpolator.java
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ public int compare(InterpolatorProperty o, InterpolatorProperty o1) {
                 if(mp.getUri().startsWith( ProjectUri.Build.xUri ) || mp.getUri().equals( ProjectUri.Reporting.outputDirectory ))
                 {
                     File file = new File(mp.getResolvedValue());
-                    if( !file.isAbsolute() )
+                    if( !file.isAbsolute() && !mp.getResolvedValue().startsWith("${project.build."))
                     {
                         buildDirectories.put(mp, new ModelProperty(mp.getUri(), new File(basedir, file.getPath()).getAbsolutePath()));
                     }