diff --git a/project/SparkBuild.scala b/project/SparkBuild.scala
index aef246d8a9088382f21d5b6a8edcf273337a08ff..cdec6168affe9b0562ede1691a8099d99d7e5d07 100644
--- a/project/SparkBuild.scala
+++ b/project/SparkBuild.scala
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ object SparkBuild extends Build {
     // Only allow one test at a time, even across projects, since they run in the same JVM
     concurrentRestrictions in Global += Tags.limit(Tags.Test, 1),
 
+    // also check the local Maven repository ~/.m2
+    resolvers ++= Seq(Resolver.file("Local Maven Repo", file(Path.userHome + "/.m2/repository"))),
+
     // Shared between both core and streaming.
     resolvers ++= Seq("Akka Repository" at "http://repo.akka.io/releases/"),