diff --git a/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/ChangeParentPom.java b/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/ChangeParentPom.java
index 317095c54b2..eb103bbef43 100755
--- a/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/ChangeParentPom.java
+++ b/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/ChangeParentPom.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import org.openrewrite.maven.tree.*;
 import org.openrewrite.semver.Semver;
 import org.openrewrite.semver.VersionComparator;
+import org.openrewrite.xml.AddOrUpdateChild;
 import org.openrewrite.xml.AddToTagVisitor;
 import org.openrewrite.xml.ChangeTagValueVisitor;
 import org.openrewrite.xml.TagNameComparator;
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@
 
 import static java.util.Collections.emptyList;
 import static org.openrewrite.internal.StringUtils.matchesGlob;
+import static org.openrewrite.maven.tree.Parent.DEFAULT_RELATIVE_PATH;
 
 @Value
 @EqualsAndHashCode(callSuper = false)
@@ -74,7 +76,8 @@ public class ChangeParentPom extends Recipe {
     String newVersion;
 
     @Option(displayName = "Old relative path",
-            description = "The relativePath of the maven parent pom to be changed away from.",
+            description = "The relativePath of the maven parent pom to be changed away from. " +
+                          "Use an empty String to match `<relativePath />`, use `../pom.xml` to match the default value.",
             example = "../../pom.xml",
             required = false)
     @Nullable
@@ -158,7 +161,7 @@ public Xml.Tag visitTag(Xml.Tag tag, ExecutionContext ctx) {
 
                     if (matchesGlob(resolvedPom.getValue(tag.getChildValue("groupId").orElse(null)), oldGroupId) &&
                         matchesGlob(resolvedPom.getValue(tag.getChildValue("artifactId").orElse(null)), oldArtifactId) &&
-                        (oldRelativePath == null || matchesGlob(resolvedPom.getValue(tag.getChildValue("relativePath").orElse(null)), oldRelativePath))) {
+                        (oldRelativePath == null || matchesGlob(determineRelativePath(tag, resolvedPom), oldRelativePath))) {
                         String oldVersion = resolvedPom.getValue(tag.getChildValue("version").orElse(null));
                         assert oldVersion != null;
                         String currentGroupId = tag.getChildValue("groupId").orElse(oldGroupId);
@@ -211,9 +214,15 @@ public Xml.Tag visitTag(Xml.Tag tag, ExecutionContext ctx) {
                             }
 
                             // Update or add relativePath
-                            if (oldRelativePath != null && !oldRelativePath.equals(targetRelativePath)) {
-                                changeParentTagVisitors.add(new ChangeTagValueVisitor<>(t.getChild("relativePath").get(), targetRelativePath));
-                            } else if (mismatches(tag.getChild("relativePath").orElse(null), targetRelativePath)) {
+                            Optional<Xml.Tag> existingRelativePath = t.getChild("relativePath");
+                            if (oldRelativePath != null && !oldRelativePath.equals(targetRelativePath) && existingRelativePath.isPresent()) {
+                                if (StringUtils.isBlank(targetRelativePath)) {
+                                    // ChangeTagValueVisitor would keep the closing tag
+                                    changeParentTagVisitors.add(new AddOrUpdateChild<>(t, Xml.Tag.build("<relativePath />")));
+                                } else {
+                                    changeParentTagVisitors.add(new ChangeTagValueVisitor<>(existingRelativePath.get(), targetRelativePath));
+                                }
+                            } else if (mismatches(existingRelativePath.orElse(null), targetRelativePath)) {
                                 final Xml.Tag relativePathTag;
                                 if (StringUtils.isBlank(targetRelativePath)) {
                                     relativePathTag = Xml.Tag.build("<relativePath />");
@@ -281,6 +290,14 @@ private Optional<String> findAcceptableVersion(String groupId, String artifactId
         });
     }
 
+    private static @Nullable String determineRelativePath(Xml.Tag tag, ResolvedPom resolvedPom) {
+        Optional<Xml.Tag> relativePath = tag.getChild("relativePath");
+        if (relativePath.isPresent()) {
+            return resolvedPom.getValue(relativePath.get().getValue().orElse(""));
+        }
+        return DEFAULT_RELATIVE_PATH;
+    }
+
     private static final Pattern PROPERTY_PATTERN = Pattern.compile("\\$\\{([^}]+)}");
 
     private static Map<String, String> getPropertiesInUse(Xml.Document pomXml, ExecutionContext ctx) {
diff --git a/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/UpgradeParentVersion.java b/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/UpgradeParentVersion.java
index e05b8741578..72a7d124914 100755
--- a/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/UpgradeParentVersion.java
+++ b/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/UpgradeParentVersion.java
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ public class UpgradeParentVersion extends Recipe {
     @Nullable
     String versionPattern;
 
+    @Option(displayName = "Only external",
+            description = "Only upgrade `<parent>` if external to the project, i.e. it has an empty `<relativePath>`. Defaults to `false`.",
+            required = false)
+    @Nullable
+    Boolean onlyExternal;
+
     @Override
     public String getDisplayName() {
         return "Upgrade Maven parent project version";
@@ -82,7 +88,7 @@ public TreeVisitor<?, ExecutionContext> getVisitor() {
     }
 
     private ChangeParentPom changeParentPom() {
-        return new ChangeParentPom(groupId, null, artifactId, null, newVersion, null, null,
+        return new ChangeParentPom(groupId, null, artifactId, null, newVersion, Boolean.TRUE.equals(onlyExternal) ? "" : null, null,
                 versionPattern, false);
     }
 }
diff --git a/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/tree/Parent.java b/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/tree/Parent.java
index 4bcbe9c3814..d071ee624c0 100644
--- a/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/tree/Parent.java
+++ b/rewrite-maven/src/main/java/org/openrewrite/maven/tree/Parent.java
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 @Value
 @With
 public class Parent {
+    public static final String DEFAULT_RELATIVE_PATH = "../pom.xml";
+
     GroupArtifactVersion gav;
 
     @Nullable
diff --git a/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/AddRepositoryTest.java b/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/AddRepositoryTest.java
index 2dc106fa1a5..a277d56bb99 100644
--- a/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/AddRepositoryTest.java
+++ b/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/AddRepositoryTest.java
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ void updateToSpringBoot30Snapshot() {
             new AddRepository("boot-snapshots", "https://repo.spring.io/snapshot", null, null,
               true, null, null,
               null, null, null, null),
-            new UpgradeParentVersion("org.springframework.boot", "spring-boot-starter-parent", "3.0.0-SNAPSHOT", null)
+            new UpgradeParentVersion("org.springframework.boot", "spring-boot-starter-parent", "3.0.0-SNAPSHOT", null, null)
           ),
           pomXml(
             """
diff --git a/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/ChangeParentPomTest.java b/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/ChangeParentPomTest.java
index dff6b556ee5..4746e3e0718 100644
--- a/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/ChangeParentPomTest.java
+++ b/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/ChangeParentPomTest.java
@@ -18,8 +18,11 @@
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Nested;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.RepeatedTest;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.ParameterizedTest;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.CsvSource;
 import org.openrewrite.DocumentExample;
 import org.openrewrite.Issue;
+import org.openrewrite.internal.StringUtils;
 import org.openrewrite.test.RewriteTest;
 
 import static org.openrewrite.java.Assertions.mavenProject;
@@ -46,13 +49,13 @@ void changeParent() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -61,13 +64,13 @@ void changeParent() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson</groupId>
                   <artifactId>jackson-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.12</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -95,14 +98,14 @@ void changeParentWithRelativePath() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -111,14 +114,14 @@ void changeParentWithRelativePath() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson</groupId>
                   <artifactId>jackson-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.12</version>
                   <relativePath>../../pom.xml</relativePath>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -146,13 +149,13 @@ void changeParentAddRelativePathEmptyValue() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -161,14 +164,14 @@ void changeParentAddRelativePathEmptyValue() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson</groupId>
                   <artifactId>jackson-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.12</version>
                   <relativePath />
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -196,13 +199,13 @@ void changeParentAddRelativePathNonEmptyValue() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -211,14 +214,14 @@ void changeParentAddRelativePathNonEmptyValue() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson</groupId>
                   <artifactId>jackson-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.12</version>
                   <relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -230,130 +233,205 @@ void changeParentAddRelativePathNonEmptyValue() {
 
     @RepeatedTest(10)
     void multiModuleRelativePath() {
-      ChangeParentPom recipe = new ChangeParentPom("org.springframework.boot", null, "spring-boot-starter-parent", null, "2.6.7", null, "", null, false);
-      rewriteRun(
-        spec -> spec.recipe(recipe),
-        mavenProject("parent",
-          pomXml(
-            """
-              <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-              <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
-                <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
-                <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
-                <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
-                <parent>
-                  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
-                  <version>2.5.0</version>
-                </parent>
-                
-                <modules>
-                  <module>module1</module>
-                  <module>module2</module>
-                </modules>
-              </project>
-              """,
-            """
-              <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-              <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
-                <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
-                <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
-                <version>1.0.0</version>
-
-                <parent>
-                  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
-                  <version>2.6.7</version>
-                  <relativePath />
-                </parent>
-
-                <modules>
-                  <module>module1</module>
-                  <module>module2</module>
-                </modules>
-              </project>
-              """
-          ),
-          mavenProject("module1",
+        ChangeParentPom recipe = new ChangeParentPom("org.springframework.boot", null, "spring-boot-starter-parent", null, "2.6.7", null, "", null, false);
+        rewriteRun(
+          spec -> spec.recipe(recipe),
+          mavenProject("parent",
             pomXml(
               """
                 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
                 <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
                   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                  <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                  <version>1.0.0</version>
+                
                   <parent>
-                    <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
-                    <version>1.0.0</version>
+                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                    <version>2.5.0</version>
                   </parent>
-                  <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
+                
+                  <modules>
+                    <module>module1</module>
+                    <module>module2</module>
+                  </modules>
                 </project>
-                """
-            )),
-          mavenProject("module2",
-            pomXml(
+                """,
               """
                 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
                 <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
                   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                  <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                  <version>1.0.0</version>
+                
                   <parent>
-                    <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
-                    <version>1.0.0</version>
+                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                    <version>2.6.7</version>
+                    <relativePath />
                   </parent>
-                  <artifactId>module2</artifactId>
+                
+                  <modules>
+                    <module>module1</module>
+                    <module>module2</module>
+                  </modules>
                 </project>
                 """
+            ),
+            mavenProject("module1",
+              pomXml(
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0</version>
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """
+              )),
+            mavenProject("module2",
+              pomXml(
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0</version>
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module2</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """
+              )
             )
           )
-        )
-      );
-  }
+        );
+    }
 
-  @RepeatedTest(10)
-  void multiModuleRelativePathChangeChildrens() {
-    ChangeParentPom recipe = new ChangeParentPom("org.sample", "org.springframework.boot", "sample", "spring-boot-starter-parent", "2.5.0", null, "", null, true);
-    rewriteRun(
-      spec -> spec.recipe(recipe),
-      mavenProject("parent",
-        pomXml(
-          """
-            <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-            <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
-              <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-              <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
-              <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
-              <version>1.0.0</version>
-              
-              <parent>
-                <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
-                <version>2.5.0</version>
-              </parent>
-              
-              <modules>
-                <module>module1</module>
-                <module>module2</module>
-              </modules>
-            </project>
-            """
-        ),
-        mavenProject("module1",
-          pomXml(
-            """
-              <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-              <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
-                <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                <parent>
+    @RepeatedTest(10)
+    void multiModuleRelativePathChangeChildren() {
+        ChangeParentPom recipe = new ChangeParentPom("org.sample", "org.springframework.boot", "sample", "spring-boot-starter-parent", "2.5.0", null, "", null, true);
+        rewriteRun(
+          spec -> spec.recipe(recipe),
+          mavenProject("parent",
+            pomXml(
+              """
+                <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                  <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
                   <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                   <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                   <version>1.0.0</version>
-                </parent>
-                <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
-              </project>
-              """,
+                
+                  <parent>
+                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                    <version>2.5.0</version>
+                  </parent>
+                
+                  <modules>
+                    <module>module1</module>
+                    <module>module2</module>
+                  </modules>
+                </project>
+                """
+            ),
+            mavenProject("module1",
+              pomXml(
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0</version>
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """,
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                      <version>2.5.0</version>
+                      <relativePath />
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """
+              )),
+            mavenProject("module2",
+              pomXml(
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0</version>
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module2</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """,
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                      <version>2.5.0</version>
+                      <relativePath />
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module2</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """
+              )
+            )
+          )
+        );
+    }
+
+    @ParameterizedTest
+    @CsvSource({
+      "../pom.xml,'',,<relativePath />", // self-closing tag gets added
+      "../pom.xml,,<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>,<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>", // no change, targetRelativePath is null
+      "../pom.xml,../../pom.xml,,<relativePath>../../pom.xml</relativePath>", // tag gets added
+      "../pom.xml,../../pom.xml,<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>,<relativePath>../../pom.xml</relativePath>", // tag gets updated
+      "../*,'',,<relativePath />", // self-closing tag gets added
+      "../*,,<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>,<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>", // no change, targetRelativePath is null
+      "../*,../../pom.xml,,<relativePath>../../pom.xml</relativePath>", // tag gets added
+      "../*,../../pom.xml,<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>,<relativePath>../../pom.xml</relativePath>", // tag gets updated
+      "../../pom.xml,'',<relativePath>../../pom.xml</relativePath>,<relativePath />", // tag converted to self-closing
+      "'','',<relativePath></relativePath>,<relativePath></relativePath>", // matches but new = old, left untouched
+      "'','',<relativePath/>,<relativePath/>", // matches but new = old, left untouched
+      "'','../pom.xml',<relativePath></relativePath>,<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>", // tag gets updated
+      "'','../pom.xml',<relativePath/>,<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>", // tag gets expanded and updated
+    })
+    void multiModuleChangeChildrenBasedOnRelativePath(String oldRelativePath, String newRelativePath, String oldRelativePathTag, String expectedNewRelativePathTag) {
+        ChangeParentPom recipe = new ChangeParentPom(
+          "org.sample", "org.springframework.boot",
+          "sample", "spring-boot-starter-parent",
+          "2.5.0",
+          oldRelativePath, newRelativePath,
+          null,
+          true);
+        rewriteRun(
+          spec -> spec.recipe(recipe),
+          mavenProject("parent",
+            pomXml(
               """
                 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
                 <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
@@ -362,26 +440,86 @@ void multiModuleRelativePathChangeChildrens() {
                     <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                     <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                     <version>2.5.0</version>
-                    <relativePath />
                   </parent>
-                  <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
-                </project>
-                """
-          )),
-        mavenProject("module2",
-          pomXml(
-            """
-              <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-              <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
-                <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                <parent>
                   <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                   <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                   <version>1.0.0</version>
-                </parent>
-                <artifactId>module2</artifactId>
-              </project>
-              """,
+                
+                  <modules>
+                    <module>module1</module>
+                    <module>module2</module>
+                  </modules>
+                </project>
+                """
+            ),
+            mavenProject("module1",
+              pomXml(
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0</version>%s
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """.formatted(StringUtils.isBlank(oldRelativePathTag) ? "" : "\n    " + oldRelativePathTag),
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                      <version>2.5.0</version>%s
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """.formatted(StringUtils.isBlank(expectedNewRelativePathTag) ? "" : "\n    " + expectedNewRelativePathTag)
+              )
+            ),
+            mavenProject("module2",
+              // “control” module: same parent gav but different relativePath should not be affected
+              pomXml(
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0</version>
+                      <relativePath>..</relativePath>
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module3</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """
+              )
+            )
+          )
+        );
+    }
+
+    @ParameterizedTest
+    @CsvSource({
+      "../pom.xml,<relativePath />", // self-closing means empty string
+      "../pom.xml,<relativePath>../../pom.xml</relativePath>", // different value
+      "..,,", // absent tag means '../pom.xml' not '..'
+    })
+    void multiModuleRelativePathNotMatching(String oldRelativePath, String oldRelativePathTag) {
+        ChangeParentPom recipe = new ChangeParentPom(
+          "org.sample", "org.springframework.boot",
+          "sample", "spring-boot-starter-parent",
+          "2.5.0",
+          oldRelativePath, "invalid",
+          null,
+          true);
+        rewriteRun(
+          spec -> spec.recipe(recipe),
+          mavenProject("parent",
+            pomXml(
               """
                 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
                 <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
@@ -390,16 +528,36 @@ void multiModuleRelativePathChangeChildrens() {
                     <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                     <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                     <version>2.5.0</version>
-                    <relativePath />
                   </parent>
-                  <artifactId>module2</artifactId>
+                  <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                  <version>1.0.0</version>
+                
+                  <modules>
+                    <module>module1</module>
+                  </modules>
                 </project>
                 """
+            ),
+            mavenProject("module1",
+              pomXml(
+                """
+                  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                  <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                    <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0</version>%s
+                    </parent>
+                    <artifactId>module1</artifactId>
+                  </project>
+                  """.formatted(StringUtils.isBlank(oldRelativePathTag) ? "" : "\n    " + oldRelativePathTag)
+              )
+            )
           )
-        )
-      )
-    );
-}
+        );
+    }
 
     @Test
     void upgradeVersion() {
@@ -419,14 +577,14 @@ void upgradeVersion() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -435,14 +593,14 @@ void upgradeVersion() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.22.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -470,14 +628,14 @@ void upgradeToExactVersion() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -486,14 +644,14 @@ void upgradeToExactVersion() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.22.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -521,14 +679,14 @@ void doNotDowngradeToLowerVersionWhenArtifactsAreTheSame() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.22.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -556,14 +714,14 @@ void downgradeToLowerVersionWhenFlagIsSet() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.22.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -572,14 +730,14 @@ void downgradeToLowerVersionWhenFlagIsSet() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -607,14 +765,14 @@ void wildcardVersionUpdate() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -623,14 +781,14 @@ void wildcardVersionUpdate() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>1.5.22.RELEASE</version>
                   <relativePath/> <!-- lookup parent from repository -->
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
@@ -658,18 +816,18 @@ void removesRedundantExplicitVersionsMatchingOldParent() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.junit</groupId>
                   <artifactId>junit-bom</artifactId>
                   <version>5.9.0</version>
                   <relativePath/>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
-                
+              
                 <dependencies>
                   <dependency>
                     <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
@@ -682,18 +840,18 @@ void removesRedundantExplicitVersionsMatchingOldParent() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.junit</groupId>
                   <artifactId>junit-bom</artifactId>
                   <version>5.9.1</version>
                   <relativePath/>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
-                
+              
                 <dependencies>
                   <dependency>
                     <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
@@ -724,18 +882,18 @@ void removesRedundantExplicitVersionsMatchingNewParent() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.junit</groupId>
                   <artifactId>junit-bom</artifactId>
                   <version>5.9.0</version>
                   <relativePath/>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
-                
+              
                 <dependencies>
                   <dependency>
                     <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
@@ -748,18 +906,18 @@ void removesRedundantExplicitVersionsMatchingNewParent() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.junit</groupId>
                   <artifactId>junit-bom</artifactId>
                   <version>5.9.1</version>
                   <relativePath/>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
-                
+              
                 <dependencies>
                   <dependency>
                     <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
@@ -790,18 +948,18 @@ void takesNewVersionFromParent() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.junit</groupId>
                   <artifactId>junit-bom</artifactId>
                   <version>5.9.0</version>
                   <relativePath/>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
-                
+              
                 <dependencies>
                   <dependency>
                     <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
@@ -814,18 +972,18 @@ void takesNewVersionFromParent() {
             """
               <project>
                 <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.junit</groupId>
                   <artifactId>junit-bom</artifactId>
                   <version>5.9.1</version>
                   <relativePath/>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
                 <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
                 <version>1</version>
-                
+              
                 <dependencies>
                   <dependency>
                     <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
@@ -850,7 +1008,7 @@ void upgradeNonSemverVersion() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-cloud-starter-parent</artifactId>
@@ -865,7 +1023,7 @@ void upgradeNonSemverVersion() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-cloud-starter-parent</artifactId>
@@ -948,13 +1106,13 @@ void preservesExplicitVersionIfNotRequested() {
                     <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                     <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                     <version>1.0.0</version>
-                    
+                  
                     <parent>
                       <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
                       <artifactId>spring-cloud-dependencies</artifactId>
                       <version>2020.0.1</version>
                     </parent>
-                    
+                  
                     <dependencies>
                       <dependency>
                         <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
@@ -971,13 +1129,13 @@ void preservesExplicitVersionIfNotRequested() {
                     <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                     <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                     <version>1.0.0</version>
-                    
+                  
                     <parent>
                       <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
                       <artifactId>spring-cloud-dependencies</artifactId>
                       <version>2021.0.5</version>
                     </parent>
-                    
+                  
                     <dependencies>
                       <dependency>
                         <groupId>org.springframework.cloud</groupId>
@@ -1001,49 +1159,49 @@ void bringsDownRemovedProperty() {
                 "3.2.4",
                 null, null, null, null)),
               pomXml(
-                    """
-                <project>
-                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                    <groupId>com.mycompany</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>child</artifactId>
-                    <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
-                    <parent>
-                        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
-                        <version>2.4.0</version>
-                    </parent>
-                    <dependencies>
-                      <dependency>
-                        <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
-                        <version>${servlet-api.version}</version>
-                      </dependency>
-                    </dependencies>
-                </project>
-                """,
                 """
-                <project>
-                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                    <groupId>com.mycompany</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>child</artifactId>
-                    <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
-                    <parent>
-                        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
-                        <version>3.2.4</version>
-                    </parent>
-                    <properties>
-                        <servlet-api.version>4.0.1</servlet-api.version>
-                    </properties>
-                    <dependencies>
-                      <dependency>
-                        <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
-                        <version>${servlet-api.version}</version>
-                      </dependency>
-                    </dependencies>
-                </project>
-                """)
+                  <project>
+                      <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                      <groupId>com.mycompany</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>child</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+                      <parent>
+                          <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
+                          <version>2.4.0</version>
+                      </parent>
+                      <dependencies>
+                        <dependency>
+                          <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
+                          <version>${servlet-api.version}</version>
+                        </dependency>
+                      </dependencies>
+                  </project>
+                  """,
+                """
+                  <project>
+                      <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                      <groupId>com.mycompany</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>child</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+                      <parent>
+                          <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
+                          <version>3.2.4</version>
+                      </parent>
+                      <properties>
+                          <servlet-api.version>4.0.1</servlet-api.version>
+                      </properties>
+                      <dependencies>
+                        <dependency>
+                          <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
+                          <version>${servlet-api.version}</version>
+                        </dependency>
+                      </dependencies>
+                  </project>
+                  """)
             );
         }
 
@@ -1056,53 +1214,53 @@ void bringsDownRemovedManagedVersion() {
                 "3.2.4",
                 null, null, null, null)),
               pomXml(
-                    """
-                <project>
-                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                    <groupId>com.mycompany</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>child</artifactId>
-                    <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
-                    <parent>
-                        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
-                        <version>2.4.0</version>
-                    </parent>
-                    <dependencies>
-                      <dependency>
-                        <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
-                      </dependency>
-                    </dependencies>
-                </project>
-                """,
                 """
-                <project>
-                    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                    <groupId>com.mycompany</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>child</artifactId>
-                    <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
-                    <parent>
-                        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
-                        <version>3.2.4</version>
-                    </parent>
-                    <dependencyManagement>
-                        <dependencies>
-                            <dependency>
-                                <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
-                                <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
-                                <version>4.0.1</version>
-                            </dependency>
-                        </dependencies>
-                    </dependencyManagement>
-                    <dependencies>
-                      <dependency>
-                        <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
-                      </dependency>
-                    </dependencies>
-                </project>
-                """)
+                  <project>
+                      <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                      <groupId>com.mycompany</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>child</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+                      <parent>
+                          <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
+                          <version>2.4.0</version>
+                      </parent>
+                      <dependencies>
+                        <dependency>
+                          <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
+                        </dependency>
+                      </dependencies>
+                  </project>
+                  """,
+                """
+                  <project>
+                      <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                      <groupId>com.mycompany</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>child</artifactId>
+                      <version>1.0.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
+                      <parent>
+                          <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
+                          <version>3.2.4</version>
+                      </parent>
+                      <dependencyManagement>
+                          <dependencies>
+                              <dependency>
+                                  <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
+                                  <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
+                                  <version>4.0.1</version>
+                              </dependency>
+                          </dependencies>
+                      </dependencyManagement>
+                      <dependencies>
+                        <dependency>
+                          <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
+                        </dependency>
+                      </dependencies>
+                  </project>
+                  """)
             );
         }
     }
@@ -1122,13 +1280,13 @@ void multiModule() {
                   <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                   <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                   <version>1.0.0</version>
-                  
+                
                   <parent>
                     <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                     <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                     <version>2.5.0</version>
                   </parent>
-                  
+                
                   <modules>
                     <module>module1</module>
                     <module>module2</module>
@@ -1142,13 +1300,13 @@ void multiModule() {
                   <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                   <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                   <version>1.0.0</version>
-
+                
                   <parent>
                     <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                     <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                     <version>2.6.7</version>
                   </parent>
-
+                
                   <modules>
                     <module>module1</module>
                     <module>module2</module>
@@ -1203,7 +1361,7 @@ void changeParentToSameVersion() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-dependencies</artifactId>
@@ -1218,7 +1376,7 @@ void changeParentToSameVersion() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
@@ -1237,44 +1395,44 @@ void doNotAddUnnecessaryManagedVersion() {
             "spring-boot-starter-parent", "spring-boot-starter-parent",
             "2.3.12.RELEASE", null, null, null, null)),
           pomXml(
-                """
-            <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 https://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
-                <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                <parent>
-                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
-                    <version>2.2.13.RELEASE</version>
-                </parent>
-                <groupId>com.example</groupId>
-                <artifactId>acme</artifactId>
-                <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
-                <dependencies>
-                    <dependency>
-                        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
-                    </dependency>
-                </dependencies>
-            </project>
-            """,
             """
-            <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 https://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
-                <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                <parent>
-                    <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
-                    <version>2.3.12.RELEASE</version>
-                </parent>
-                <groupId>com.example</groupId>
-                <artifactId>acme</artifactId>
-                <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
-                <dependencies>
-                    <dependency>
-                        <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
-                    </dependency>
-                </dependencies>
-            </project>
-            """)
+              <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 https://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                  <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                  <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                      <version>2.2.13.RELEASE</version>
+                  </parent>
+                  <groupId>com.example</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>acme</artifactId>
+                  <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+                  <dependencies>
+                      <dependency>
+                          <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
+                      </dependency>
+                  </dependencies>
+              </project>
+              """,
+            """
+              <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 https://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
+                  <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                  <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                      <version>2.3.12.RELEASE</version>
+                  </parent>
+                  <groupId>com.example</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>acme</artifactId>
+                  <version>0.0.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+                  <dependencies>
+                      <dependency>
+                          <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
+                      </dependency>
+                  </dependencies>
+              </project>
+              """)
         );
     }
 
@@ -1284,95 +1442,95 @@ void shouldNotAddToDependencyManagement() {
           spec -> spec.recipe(new ChangeParentPom("org.jenkins-ci.plugins", "org.jenkins-ci.plugins", "plugin", "plugin", "4.81", null, null, null, null)),
           // language=xml
           pomXml(
-          """
-            <project>
-                <artifactId>example</artifactId>
-                <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                <parent>
-                    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>plugin</artifactId>
-                    <version>4.75</version>
-                    <relativePath/>
-                </parent>
-                <properties>
-                    <jenkins.version>2.387.3</jenkins.version>
-                </properties>
-                <repositories>
-                    <repository>
-                        <id>repo.jenkins-ci.org</id>
-                        <url>https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public/</url>
-                    </repository>
-                </repositories>
-                <pluginRepositories>
-                    <pluginRepository>
-                        <id>repo.jenkins-ci.org</id>
-                        <url>https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public/</url>
-                    </pluginRepository>
-                </pluginRepositories>
-                <dependencyManagement>
+            """
+              <project>
+                  <artifactId>example</artifactId>
+                  <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                  <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>plugin</artifactId>
+                      <version>4.75</version>
+                      <relativePath/>
+                  </parent>
+                  <properties>
+                      <jenkins.version>2.387.3</jenkins.version>
+                  </properties>
+                  <repositories>
+                      <repository>
+                          <id>repo.jenkins-ci.org</id>
+                          <url>https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public/</url>
+                      </repository>
+                  </repositories>
+                  <pluginRepositories>
+                      <pluginRepository>
+                          <id>repo.jenkins-ci.org</id>
+                          <url>https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public/</url>
+                      </pluginRepository>
+                  </pluginRepositories>
+                  <dependencyManagement>
+                    <dependencies>
+                        <dependency>
+                            <groupId>io.jenkins.tools.bom</groupId>
+                            <artifactId>bom-2.387.x</artifactId>
+                            <version>2516.v113cb_3d00317</version>
+                            <type>pom</type>
+                            <scope>import</scope>
+                        </dependency>
+                    </dependencies>
+                  </dependencyManagement>
                   <dependencies>
                       <dependency>
-                          <groupId>io.jenkins.tools.bom</groupId>
-                          <artifactId>bom-2.387.x</artifactId>
-                          <version>2516.v113cb_3d00317</version>
-                          <type>pom</type>
-                          <scope>import</scope>
+                          <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
                       </dependency>
                   </dependencies>
-                </dependencyManagement>
-                <dependencies>
-                    <dependency>
-                        <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
-                    </dependency>
-                </dependencies>
-            </project>
-            """,
-          """
-            <project>
-                <artifactId>example</artifactId>
-                <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
-                <parent>
-                    <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
-                    <artifactId>plugin</artifactId>
-                    <version>4.81</version>
-                    <relativePath/>
-                </parent>
-                <properties>
-                    <jenkins.version>2.387.3</jenkins.version>
-                </properties>
-                <repositories>
-                    <repository>
-                        <id>repo.jenkins-ci.org</id>
-                        <url>https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public/</url>
-                    </repository>
-                </repositories>
-                <pluginRepositories>
-                    <pluginRepository>
-                        <id>repo.jenkins-ci.org</id>
-                        <url>https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public/</url>
-                    </pluginRepository>
-                </pluginRepositories>
-                <dependencyManagement>
+              </project>
+              """,
+            """
+              <project>
+                  <artifactId>example</artifactId>
+                  <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
+                  <parent>
+                      <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
+                      <artifactId>plugin</artifactId>
+                      <version>4.81</version>
+                      <relativePath/>
+                  </parent>
+                  <properties>
+                      <jenkins.version>2.387.3</jenkins.version>
+                  </properties>
+                  <repositories>
+                      <repository>
+                          <id>repo.jenkins-ci.org</id>
+                          <url>https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public/</url>
+                      </repository>
+                  </repositories>
+                  <pluginRepositories>
+                      <pluginRepository>
+                          <id>repo.jenkins-ci.org</id>
+                          <url>https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public/</url>
+                      </pluginRepository>
+                  </pluginRepositories>
+                  <dependencyManagement>
+                    <dependencies>
+                        <dependency>
+                            <groupId>io.jenkins.tools.bom</groupId>
+                            <artifactId>bom-2.387.x</artifactId>
+                            <version>2516.v113cb_3d00317</version>
+                            <type>pom</type>
+                            <scope>import</scope>
+                        </dependency>
+                    </dependencies>
+                  </dependencyManagement>
                   <dependencies>
                       <dependency>
-                          <groupId>io.jenkins.tools.bom</groupId>
-                          <artifactId>bom-2.387.x</artifactId>
-                          <version>2516.v113cb_3d00317</version>
-                          <type>pom</type>
-                          <scope>import</scope>
+                          <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
+                          <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
                       </dependency>
                   </dependencies>
-                </dependencyManagement>
-                <dependencies>
-                    <dependency>
-                        <groupId>org.jenkins-ci.plugins</groupId>
-                        <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
-                    </dependency>
-                </dependencies>
-            </project>
-            """
-        ));
+              </project>
+              """
+          ));
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -1387,13 +1545,13 @@ void doesNotAddMavenDefaultProperties() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.7.17</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <properties>
                   <my-cool-prop>${project.build.directory}</my-cool-prop>
                 </properties>
@@ -1406,13 +1564,13 @@ void doesNotAddMavenDefaultProperties() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.7.18</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <properties>
                   <my-cool-prop>${project.build.directory}</my-cool-prop>
                 </properties>
@@ -1434,13 +1592,13 @@ void doesNotAddGrandparentProperties() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.7.17</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <properties>
                   <my-cool-prop>${junit.version}</my-cool-prop>
                 </properties>
@@ -1453,13 +1611,13 @@ void doesNotAddGrandparentProperties() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.7.18</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <properties>
                   <my-cool-prop>${junit.version}</my-cool-prop>
                 </properties>
@@ -1481,13 +1639,13 @@ void doesNotAddGlobalProperties() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.7.17</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <properties>
                   <my-basedir>${basedir}</my-basedir>
                   <my-project-basedir>${project.basedir}</my-project-basedir>
@@ -1505,13 +1663,13 @@ void doesNotAddGlobalProperties() {
                 <groupId>org.sample</groupId>
                 <artifactId>sample</artifactId>
                 <version>1.0.0</version>
-                
+              
                 <parent>
                   <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
                   <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
                   <version>2.7.18</version>
                 </parent>
-                
+              
                 <properties>
                   <my-basedir>${basedir}</my-basedir>
                   <my-project-basedir>${project.basedir}</my-project-basedir>
diff --git a/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/MavenDependencyFailuresTest.java b/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/MavenDependencyFailuresTest.java
index 1a179b991a4..e79efee8f22 100644
--- a/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/MavenDependencyFailuresTest.java
+++ b/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/MavenDependencyFailuresTest.java
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void unresolvableMavenMetadata() {
     void unresolvableParent() { // Dad said he was heading to the corner store for cigarettes, and hasn't been resolvable for the past 20 years :'(
         rewriteRun(
           spec -> spec
-            .recipe(new UpgradeParentVersion("*", "*", "latest.patch", null))
+            .recipe(new UpgradeParentVersion("*", "*", "latest.patch", null, null))
             .executionContext(MavenExecutionContextView.view(new InMemoryExecutionContext())
               .setRepositories(List.of(MavenRepository.builder().id("jenkins").uri("https://repo.jenkins-ci.org/public").knownToExist(true).build())))
             .recipeExecutionContext(new InMemoryExecutionContext())
diff --git a/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/UpgradeParentVersionTest.java b/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/UpgradeParentVersionTest.java
index 9b25228a908..cfb98b5f4d6 100644
--- a/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/UpgradeParentVersionTest.java
+++ b/rewrite-maven/src/test/java/org/openrewrite/maven/UpgradeParentVersionTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 package org.openrewrite.maven;
 
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.ParameterizedTest;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.ValueSource;
 import org.openrewrite.DocumentExample;
 import org.openrewrite.InMemoryExecutionContext;
 import org.openrewrite.Issue;
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ void doesNotDowngradeVersion() {
             "org.springframework.boot",
             "spring-boot-starter-parent",
             "~1.5",
+            null,
             null
           )),
           pomXml(
@@ -61,7 +64,7 @@ void doesNotDowngradeVersion() {
     void nonMavenCentralRepository() {
         rewriteRun(
           spec -> spec
-            .recipe(new UpgradeParentVersion("org.jenkins-ci", "jenkins", "1.125", null))
+            .recipe(new UpgradeParentVersion("org.jenkins-ci", "jenkins", "1.125", null, null))
             .executionContext(
               MavenExecutionContextView
                 .view(new InMemoryExecutionContext())
@@ -103,6 +106,7 @@ void upgradeVersion() {
             "org.springframework.boot",
             "spring-boot-starter-parent",
             "~1.5",
+            null,
             null
           )),
           pomXml(
@@ -136,6 +140,77 @@ void upgradeVersion() {
         );
     }
 
+    @ParameterizedTest
+    @ValueSource(strings = {"<relativePath />", "<relativePath></relativePath>"})
+    void onlyExternalWhenActuallyExternal(String relativePathTag) {
+        rewriteRun(
+          spec -> spec.recipe(new UpgradeParentVersion(
+            "org.springframework.boot",
+            "spring-boot-starter-parent",
+            "~1.5",
+            null,
+            true
+          )),
+          pomXml(
+            """
+              <project>
+                <parent>
+                  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                  <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
+                  %s
+                </parent>
+                <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
+                <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
+                <version>1</version>
+              </project>
+              """.formatted(relativePathTag),
+            """
+              <project>
+                <parent>
+                  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                  <version>1.5.22.RELEASE</version>
+                  %s
+                </parent>
+                <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
+                <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
+                <version>1</version>
+              </project>
+              """.formatted(relativePathTag)
+          )
+        );
+    }
+
+    @ParameterizedTest
+    @ValueSource(strings = {"", "<relativePath>..</relativePath>", "<relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>", "<relativePath>../../pom.xml</relativePath>"})
+    void onlyExternalWhenNotExternal(String relativePathTag) {
+        rewriteRun(
+          spec -> spec.recipe(new UpgradeParentVersion(
+            "org.springframework.boot",
+            "spring-boot-starter-parent",
+            "~1.5",
+            null,
+            true
+          )),
+          pomXml(
+            """
+              <project>
+                <parent>
+                  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
+                  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-parent</artifactId>
+                  <version>1.5.12.RELEASE</version>
+                  %s
+                </parent>
+                <groupId>com.mycompany.app</groupId>
+                <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
+                <version>1</version>
+              </project>
+              """.formatted(relativePathTag)
+          )
+        );
+    }
+
     @Test
     void upgradeToExactVersion() {
         rewriteRun(
@@ -143,6 +218,7 @@ void upgradeToExactVersion() {
             "org.springframework.boot",
             "spring-boot-starter-parent",
             "1.5.22.RELEASE",
+            null,
             null
           )),
           pomXml(