diff --git a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/util/xml/Xpp3Dom.java b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/util/xml/Xpp3Dom.java
index 4f268f9d..f6e46b46 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/util/xml/Xpp3Dom.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/util/xml/Xpp3Dom.java
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ private static void mergeIntoXpp3Dom( Xpp3Dom dominant, Xpp3Dom recessive, Boole
             {
                 for ( String attr : recessive.attributes.keySet() )
                 {
-                    if ( isEmpty( dominant.getAttribute( attr ) ) && !SELF_COMBINATION_MODE_ATTRIBUTE.equals( attr ) )
+                    if ( isEmpty( dominant.getAttribute( attr ) ) )
                     {
                         dominant.setAttribute( attr, recessive.getAttribute( attr ) );
                     }