diff --git a/impl/maven-impl/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/impl/model/DefaultModelBuilder.java b/impl/maven-impl/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/impl/model/DefaultModelBuilder.java
index 60a49fcc2e96..75ec841cde80 100644
--- a/impl/maven-impl/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/impl/model/DefaultModelBuilder.java
+++ b/impl/maven-impl/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/impl/model/DefaultModelBuilder.java
@@ -1398,7 +1398,7 @@ private Model readEffectiveModel() throws ModelBuilderException {
             // path correctly if it was not set in the input model
             if (inputModel.getParent() != null && inputModel.getParent().getRelativePath() == null) {
                 String relPath;
-                if (parentModel.getPomFile() != null && isBuildRequest()) {
+                if (parentModel.getPomFile() != null && inputModel.getPomFile() != null && isBuildRequest()) {
                     relPath = inputModel
                             .getPomFile()
                             .getParent()