diff --git a/jbehave-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/jbehave/mojo/AbstractEmbedderMojo.java b/jbehave-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/jbehave/mojo/AbstractEmbedderMojo.java
--- a/jbehave-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/jbehave/mojo/AbstractEmbedderMojo.java
+++ b/jbehave-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/jbehave/mojo/AbstractEmbedderMojo.java
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@
      */
     List<String> metaFilters = asList();
 
+    private EmbedderClassLoader classLoader;
+    
     /**
      * Determines if the scope of the mojo classpath is "test"
      * 
@@ -177,7 +179,10 @@
      * @return A EmbedderClassLoader
      */
     protected EmbedderClassLoader createClassLoader() {
-        return new EmbedderClassLoader(classpathElements());
+        if (classLoader == null)
+            classLoader = new EmbedderClassLoader(classpathElements());
+
+        return classLoader;
     }
 
     List<String> classpathElements() {