diff --git a/maven/exam-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/exam/maven/StartContainerMojo.java b/maven/exam-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/exam/maven/StartContainerMojo.java
index 7438adfc8..57b3f146f 100644
--- a/maven/exam-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/exam/maven/StartContainerMojo.java
+++ b/maven/exam-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/exam/maven/StartContainerMojo.java
@@ -91,8 +91,19 @@ public class StartContainerMojo extends AbstractMojo {
     @Parameter
     private String[] vmOptions;
 
+    /**
+     * If true, skip execution.
+     */
+    @Parameter
+    private boolean skip;
+
+
     @Override
     public void execute() throws MojoExecutionException, MojoFailureException {
+        if (skip) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         getLog().debug("classpath for forked process:");
         for (String cp : classpathElements) {
             getLog().debug(cp);
diff --git a/maven/exam-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/exam/maven/StopContainerMojo.java b/maven/exam-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/exam/maven/StopContainerMojo.java
index 1834ed132..dbd082f45 100644
--- a/maven/exam-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/exam/maven/StopContainerMojo.java
+++ b/maven/exam-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/exam/maven/StopContainerMojo.java
@@ -45,8 +45,18 @@ public class StopContainerMojo extends AbstractMojo {
     @Parameter(defaultValue = "${mojoExecution}", readonly = true)
     private MojoExecution mojoExecution;
 
+    /**
+     * If true, skip execution.
+     */
+    @Parameter
+    private boolean skip;
+
     @Override
     public void execute() throws MojoExecutionException, MojoFailureException {
+        if (skip) {
+            return;
+        }
+        
         Object object = getPluginContext().get(TEST_CONTAINER_RUNNER_KEY + mojoExecution.getExecutionId());
         if (object == null) {
             throw new MojoExecutionException(