diff --git a/war/plugin.jelly b/war/plugin.jelly
index ae9f0269..1904ef30 100644
--- a/war/plugin.jelly
+++ b/war/plugin.jelly
@@ -130,14 +130,14 @@
       <!-- END OF TO BE REMOVED -->
     </j:forEach>            
 
-    <j:if test="${sourcesPresent == 'true'}">
+    <util:available file="${maven.build.dest}">
       <ant:copy todir="${webapp.build.classes}">
         <ant:fileset dir="${maven.build.dest}"
           includes="${maven.war.classes.includes}"
           excludes="${maven.war.classes.excludes}">
         </ant:fileset>
       </ant:copy>
-    </j:if>
+    </util:available>
 
   </goal>
 
diff --git a/war/xdocs/changes.xml b/war/xdocs/changes.xml
index 0104d1d7..30b5d8ef 100644
--- a/war/xdocs/changes.xml
+++ b/war/xdocs/changes.xml
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
   <body>
 
     <release version="1.5" date="in CVS">
+      <action dev="dion" type="fix">
+        Fix for MAVEN-986. Allow resources to be copied when no sources present
+      </action>
       <action dev="vmassol" type="add">
         Use the new <code>caller</code> plugin to isolate the 
         java compilation goal called from its implementation.
