diff --git a/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/MavenPlugin.java b/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/MavenPlugin.java
index 818b491fd..675149377 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/MavenPlugin.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/MavenPlugin.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.MavenModelManager;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.MavenRuntimeManager;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.internal.MavenPluginActivator;
+import org.eclipse.m2e.core.project.IMavenProjectFacade;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.project.IMavenProjectRegistry;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.project.IProjectConfigurationManager;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.project.IWorkspaceClassifierResolverManager;
@@ -41,6 +42,11 @@ public static MavenPlugin getDefault() {
     return INSTANCE;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Use {@link IMavenProjectFacade#getMaven()} instead whenever possible
+   * 
+   * @return a generic Maven instance (not customized by project).
+   */
   public static IMaven getMaven() {
     return MavenPluginActivator.getDefault().getMaven();
   }
diff --git a/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/internal/project/registry/MavenProjectFacade.java b/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/internal/project/registry/MavenProjectFacade.java
index a807c6b4a..be6a5a682 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/internal/project/registry/MavenProjectFacade.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/internal/project/registry/MavenProjectFacade.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 import org.apache.maven.plugin.MojoExecution;
 import org.apache.maven.project.MavenProject;
 
+import org.eclipse.m2e.core.MavenPlugin;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.ArtifactKey;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.ArtifactRef;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.ArtifactRepositoryRef;
@@ -528,4 +529,10 @@ public List<MojoExecution> getExecutionPlan(String lifecycle, IProgressMonitor m
     Map<String, List<MojoExecution>> executionPlans = getExecutionPlans(monitor);
     return executionPlans != null ? executionPlans.get(lifecycle) : null;
   }
+
+  @Override
+  public IMaven getMaven() {
+    // TODO: if project has Maven customization (such as a .mvn, MAVEN_OPTS...)
+    return MavenPlugin.getMaven();
+  }
 }
diff --git a/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/project/IMavenProjectFacade.java b/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/project/IMavenProjectFacade.java
index 55025294d..58126341d 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/project/IMavenProjectFacade.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.m2e.core/src/org/eclipse/m2e/core/project/IMavenProjectFacade.java
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.ArtifactKey;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.ArtifactRef;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.ArtifactRepositoryRef;
+import org.eclipse.m2e.core.embedder.IMaven;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.lifecyclemapping.model.IPluginExecutionMetadata;
 import org.eclipse.m2e.core.project.configurator.MojoExecutionKey;
 
@@ -137,6 +138,13 @@ public interface IMavenProjectFacade {
 
   Set<ArtifactRepositoryRef> getPluginArtifactRepositoryRefs();
 
+  /**
+   * Gets an access to a Maven instance, configured according to this project.
+   * 
+   * @return a Maven instance, configured according to this project
+   */
+  IMaven getMaven();
+
   /**
    * Returns fully setup MojoExecution instance bound to project build lifecycle that matches provided mojoExecutionKey.
    * Returns null if no such mojo execution.
@@ -156,4 +164,5 @@ List<MojoExecution> getMojoExecutions(String groupId, String artifactId, IProgre
   String getLifecycleMappingId();
 
   Map<MojoExecutionKey, List<IPluginExecutionMetadata>> getMojoExecutionMapping();
+
 }