diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/version/internal/DefaultPluginVersionResolver.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/version/internal/DefaultPluginVersionResolver.java
index fa3fb081f103..bcb521c19c2c 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/version/internal/DefaultPluginVersionResolver.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/version/internal/DefaultPluginVersionResolver.java
@@ -93,12 +93,12 @@ public PluginVersionResult resolve( PluginVersionRequest request )
         throws PluginVersionResolutionException
     {
         ConcurrentMap<String, PluginVersionResult> cache = getCache( request.getRepositorySession().getData() );
-        String key = getKey( request );
 
         PluginVersionResult result = resolveFromProject( request );
 
         if ( result == null )
         {
+            String key = getKey( request );
             result = cache.get( key );
 
             if ( result == null )