Index: maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/DefaultMaven.java
===================================================================
--- maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/DefaultMaven.java	(revision 398684)
+++ maven-core/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/DefaultMaven.java	(working copy)
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@
         List projects = getProjects( request, globalProfileManager );
         if ( projects.isEmpty() )
         {
-            projects.add( getSuperProject( request ) );
+            projects.add( getSuperProject( request, globalProfileManager ) );
             foundProjects = false;
         }
 
@@ -324,13 +324,13 @@
         return rm;
     }
 
-    private MavenProject getSuperProject( MavenExecutionRequest request )
+    private MavenProject getSuperProject( MavenExecutionRequest request, ProfileManager globalProfileManager )
         throws MavenExecutionException
     {
         MavenProject superProject;
         try
         {
-            superProject = projectBuilder.buildStandaloneSuperProject( request.getLocalRepository() );
+            superProject = projectBuilder.buildStandaloneSuperProject( request.getLocalRepository(), globalProfileManager );
 
         }
         catch ( ProjectBuildingException e )
Index: maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/MavenProjectBuilder.java
===================================================================
--- maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/MavenProjectBuilder.java	(revision 398684)
+++ maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/MavenProjectBuilder.java	(working copy)
@@ -86,6 +86,34 @@
                                       ArtifactRepository localRepository, boolean allowStubModel )
         throws ProjectBuildingException;
 
+    /**
+     * Builds a MavenProject entirely from Standalone SuperProject.
+     * 
+     * Only useful when you have no project to work with.
+     * 
+     * NOTE: This method does not take in account the users settings and profiles.
+     * 
+     * @param localRepository the local repository
+     * @return the project representing the SuperProject.
+     * @throws ProjectBuildingException
+     * @deprecated This method does not take in account the Users Settings and Profiles.
+     *    Use {@link #buildStandaloneSuperProject(ArtifactRepository, ProfileManager)} instead.
+     */
     MavenProject buildStandaloneSuperProject( ArtifactRepository localRepository )
+    throws ProjectBuildingException;
+    
+    /**
+     * Builds a MavenProject entirely from a Standalone SuperProject.
+     * 
+     * Useful when you have no project to work with.
+     * (Such as the archetype:create plugin)
+     * 
+     * @param localRepository the local repository
+     * @param globalProfileManager the settings and profiles to merge with the superproject.
+     * @return the project representing the SuperProject and Profiles.
+     * @throws ProjectBuildingException
+     * @since 2.0.5
+     */
+    MavenProject buildStandaloneSuperProject( ArtifactRepository localRepository, ProfileManager globalProfileManager )
         throws ProjectBuildingException;
 }
Index: maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/DefaultMavenProjectBuilder.java
===================================================================
--- maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/DefaultMavenProjectBuilder.java	(revision 398684)
+++ maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/DefaultMavenProjectBuilder.java	(working copy)
@@ -234,11 +234,23 @@
     {
         return buildFromRepository( artifact, remoteArtifactRepositories, localRepository, true );
     }
-
-    // what is using this externally? jvz.
+    
+    /**
+     * {@inheritDoc}
+     */
     public MavenProject buildStandaloneSuperProject( ArtifactRepository localRepository )
         throws ProjectBuildingException
     {
+        return buildStandaloneSuperProject( localRepository, null );
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * {@inheritDoc}
+     * Used by DefaultMaven, MavenMetadaSource and DescribeMojo.
+     */
+    public MavenProject buildStandaloneSuperProject( ArtifactRepository localRepository, ProfileManager globalProfileManager )
+        throws ProjectBuildingException
+    {
         Model superModel = getSuperModel();
 
         superModel.setGroupId( STANDALONE_SUPERPOM_GROUPID );
@@ -246,9 +258,13 @@
         superModel.setArtifactId( STANDALONE_SUPERPOM_ARTIFACTID );
 
         superModel.setVersion( STANDALONE_SUPERPOM_VERSION );
+        
+        ProfileManager profileManager = globalProfileManager;
+        if ( profileManager == null )
+        {
+            profileManager = new DefaultProfileManager( container );
+        }
 
-        ProfileManager profileManager = new DefaultProfileManager( container );
-
         List activeProfiles;
 
         profileManager.addProfiles( superModel.getProfiles() );
Index: maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/artifact/MavenMetadataSource.java
===================================================================
--- maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/artifact/MavenMetadataSource.java	(revision 398684)
+++ maven-project/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/project/artifact/MavenMetadataSource.java	(working copy)
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@
         {
             try
             {
-                superProject = mavenProjectBuilder.buildStandaloneSuperProject( null );
+                superProject = mavenProjectBuilder.buildStandaloneSuperProject( null, null );
             }
             catch ( ProjectBuildingException e )
             {