diff --git a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/interpolation/StringSearchInterpolator.java b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/interpolation/StringSearchInterpolator.java
index ffdd6bc..04cba3d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/interpolation/StringSearchInterpolator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/interpolation/StringSearchInterpolator.java
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ private String interpolate(String input, RecursionInterceptor recursionIntercept
 
                     recursionInterceptor.expressionResolutionStarted(realExpr);
                     try {
-                        Object value = existingAnswers.get(realExpr);
+                        Object value = getExistingAnswer(realExpr);
                         Object bestAnswer = null;
 
                         for (ValueSource valueSource : valueSources) {
@@ -197,6 +197,10 @@ private String interpolate(String input, RecursionInterceptor recursionIntercept
                             // behaviour
                             result.append(String.valueOf(value));
                             resolved = true;
+
+                            if (cacheAnswers) {
+                                existingAnswers.put(realExpr, value);
+                            }
                         } else {
                             unresolvable.add(wholeExpr);
                         }
@@ -275,4 +279,13 @@ public String getEscapeString() {
     public void setEscapeString(String escapeString) {
         this.escapeString = escapeString;
     }
+
+    /**
+     * For testing purposes only. Not part of the public API.
+     * @param key the key of a possible existing answer.
+     * @return the associated interpolated object, or null if there is none.
+     */
+    protected Object getExistingAnswer(String key) {
+        return existingAnswers.get(key);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/codehaus/plexus/interpolation/StringSearchInterpolatorTest.java b/src/test/java/org/codehaus/plexus/interpolation/StringSearchInterpolatorTest.java
index 5152670..481f8f0 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/codehaus/plexus/interpolation/StringSearchInterpolatorTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/codehaus/plexus/interpolation/StringSearchInterpolatorTest.java
@@ -406,6 +406,75 @@ public void clearFeedback() {}
                 "should not believe there is a cycle here");
     }
 
+    public void testCacheAnswersTrue() throws InterpolationException {
+        Properties p = new Properties();
+        p.setProperty("key", "value");
+
+        class CountingStringSearchInterpolator extends StringSearchInterpolator {
+            private int existingCallCount;
+
+            @Override
+            protected Object getExistingAnswer(String key) {
+                Object value = super.getExistingAnswer(key);
+                if (value != null) {
+                    ++existingCallCount;
+                }
+                return value;
+            }
+
+            public int getExistingCallCount() {
+                return existingCallCount;
+            }
+        }
+
+        CountingStringSearchInterpolator interpolator = new CountingStringSearchInterpolator();
+        interpolator.setCacheAnswers(true);
+        interpolator.addValueSource(new PropertiesBasedValueSource(p));
+
+        String result = interpolator.interpolate("${key}-${key}-${key}-${key}");
+
+        assertEquals("value-value-value-value", result);
+        // first value is interpolated and saved, then the 3 next answers came from existing answer Map
+        assertEquals(3, interpolator.getExistingCallCount());
+
+        // answers are preserved between calls:
+        result = interpolator.interpolate("${key}-${key}-${key}-${key}");
+        assertEquals("value-value-value-value", result);
+        // 3 from the first call to interpolate(), plus 4 from second call
+        assertEquals(3 + 4, interpolator.getExistingCallCount());
+    }
+
+    public void testCacheAnswersFalse() throws InterpolationException {
+        Properties p = new Properties();
+        p.setProperty("key", "value");
+
+        class CountingStringSearchInterpolator extends StringSearchInterpolator {
+            private int existingCallCount;
+
+            @Override
+            protected Object getExistingAnswer(String key) {
+                Object value = super.getExistingAnswer(key);
+                if (value != null) {
+                    ++existingCallCount;
+                }
+                return value;
+            }
+
+            public int getExistingCallCount() {
+                return existingCallCount;
+            }
+        }
+
+        CountingStringSearchInterpolator interpolator = new CountingStringSearchInterpolator();
+        interpolator.addValueSource(new PropertiesBasedValueSource(p));
+
+        String result = interpolator.interpolate("${key}-${key}-${key}-${key}");
+
+        assertEquals("value-value-value-value", result);
+        // all values are interpolated each time
+        assertEquals(0, interpolator.getExistingCallCount());
+    }
+
     public String getVar() {
         return "testVar";
     }