diff --git a/plugins/maven/src/main/java/org/jetbrains/idea/maven/dom/model/MavenDomParent.java b/plugins/maven/src/main/java/org/jetbrains/idea/maven/dom/model/MavenDomParent.java
index 3a6f8757597d..8c0ea557d843 100644
--- a/plugins/maven/src/main/java/org/jetbrains/idea/maven/dom/model/MavenDomParent.java
+++ b/plugins/maven/src/main/java/org/jetbrains/idea/maven/dom/model/MavenDomParent.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ package org.jetbrains.idea.maven.dom.model;
 import com.intellij.psi.PsiFile;
 import com.intellij.util.xml.Convert;
 import com.intellij.util.xml.GenericDomValue;
+import com.intellij.util.xml.Required;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.idea.maven.dom.MavenDomElement;
 import org.jetbrains.idea.maven.dom.converters.MavenParentRelativePathConverter;
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ public interface MavenDomParent extends MavenDomElement, MavenDomArtifactCoordin
    * @return the value of the relativePath child.
    */
   @NotNull
+  @Required(value = false, nonEmpty = false)
   @Convert(MavenParentRelativePathConverter.class)
   GenericDomValue<PsiFile> getRelativePath();
 }