diff --git a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/classrealm/DefaultClassRealmManager.java b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/classrealm/DefaultClassRealmManager.java
index 532cfd082f1..23008c99536 100644
--- a/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/classrealm/DefaultClassRealmManager.java
+++ b/maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/classrealm/DefaultClassRealmManager.java
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ private ClassRealm newRealm( String id )
             {
                 try
                 {
-                    ClassRealm classRealm = world.newRealm( realmId, PARENT_CLASSLOADER );
+                    ClassLoader contextClassLoader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
+                    ClassRealm classRealm = world.newRealm( realmId, contextClassLoader == null
+                                    ? PARENT_CLASSLOADER : contextClassLoader );
 
                     if ( logger.isDebugEnabled() )
                     {