diff --git a/dependency-check-maven/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/maven/ReportAggregationMojo.java b/dependency-check-maven/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/maven/ReportAggregationMojo.java
index ab1e884a1..58db453e7 100644
--- a/dependency-check-maven/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/maven/ReportAggregationMojo.java
+++ b/dependency-check-maven/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/maven/ReportAggregationMojo.java
@@ -138,6 +138,11 @@ public abstract class ReportAggregationMojo extends AbstractMojo implements Mave
         return true;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Initializes the mojo.
+     */
+    protected abstract void initialize();
+
     /**
      * The collection of child projects.
      */
@@ -204,6 +209,7 @@ public abstract class ReportAggregationMojo extends AbstractMojo implements Mave
      */
     public final void execute() throws MojoExecutionException, MojoFailureException {
         try {
+            initialize();
             preExecute();
             performExecute();
         } finally {
@@ -273,6 +279,7 @@ public abstract class ReportAggregationMojo extends AbstractMojo implements Mave
      */
     public final void generate(Sink sink, Locale locale) throws MavenReportException {
         try {
+            initialize();
             preGenerate();
             if (canGenerateNonAggregateReport()) {
                 executeNonAggregateReport(locale);