diff --git a/java/plugin.jelly b/java/plugin.jelly
index 14fbd92d..fada81b2 100644
--- a/java/plugin.jelly
+++ b/java/plugin.jelly
@@ -122,12 +122,14 @@
 
   <goal name="java:jar-resources"
         description="Copy any resources that must be present in the deployed JAR file">
-        
-    <j:if test="${!pom.build.resources.isEmpty()}">
-      <resources:copy 
-        resources="${pom.build.resources}"
-        todir="${maven.build.dest}"
-      />
+    <j:set var="build" value="${pom.build}"/>
+    <j:if test="${!empty(build)}">
+      <j:if test="${!pom.build.resources.isEmpty()}">
+        <resources:copy 
+          resources="${pom.build.resources}"
+          todir="${maven.build.dest}"
+        />
+      </j:if>
     </j:if>
   </goal>