diff --git a/leiningen-core/src/leiningen/core/eval.clj b/leiningen-core/src/leiningen/core/eval.clj
index 4a5375897..2347ccaa9 100644
--- a/leiningen-core/src/leiningen/core/eval.clj
+++ b/leiningen-core/src/leiningen/core/eval.clj
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 ;; # Preparing for eval-in-project
 
 (defn- write-pom-properties [{:keys [compile-path group name] :as project}]
-  (when-not (:disable-pom-properties project)
+  (when (and (:root project) (:write-pom-properties project true))
     (let [path (format "%s/META-INF/maven/%s/%s/pom.properties"
                        compile-path group name)]
       (.mkdirs (.getParentFile (io/file path)))