diff --git a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
index 81aa5e509..d8b51d201 100644
--- a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
+++ b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Defaults.scala
@@ -200,7 +200,8 @@ object Defaults extends BuildCommon {
       autoCompilerPlugins :== true,
       scalaHome :== None,
       apiURL := None,
-      javaHome :== None,
+      releaseNotesURL := None
+        javaHome :== None,
       discoveredJavaHomes := CrossJava.discoverJavaHomes,
       javaHomes :== ListMap.empty,
       fullJavaHomes := CrossJava.expandJavaHomes(discoveredJavaHomes.value ++ javaHomes.value),
@@ -3344,7 +3345,12 @@ object Classpaths {
         p1.extra(SbtPomExtraProperties.VERSION_SCHEME_KEY -> x)
       case _ => p1
     }
-    p2
+    val p3 = releaseNotesURL.value match {
+      case Some(u) =>
+        p1.extra("info.releaseNotesUrl" -> u.toExternalForm)
+      case _ => p2
+    }
+    p3
   }
   def pluginProjectID: Initialize[ModuleID] =
     Def.setting {
diff --git a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Keys.scala b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Keys.scala
index 10ae7f1b1..65bc3687b 100644
--- a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Keys.scala
+++ b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/Keys.scala
@@ -346,6 +346,7 @@ object Keys {
   val entryApiURL = AttributeKey[URL]("entryApiURL", "Base URL for the API documentation for a classpath entry.")
   val apiMappings = taskKey[Map[File, URL]]("Mappings from classpath entry to API documentation base URL.").withRank(BMinusSetting)
   val autoAPIMappings = settingKey[Boolean]("If true, automatically manages mappings to the API doc URL.").withRank(BMinusSetting)
+  val releaseNotesURL = settingKey[Option[URL]]("URL for release notes.").withRank(BMinusSetting)
   val scmInfo = settingKey[Option[ScmInfo]]("Basic SCM information for the project.").withRank(BMinusSetting)
   val projectInfo = settingKey[ModuleInfo]("Addition project information like formal name, homepage, licenses etc.").withRank(CSetting)
   val defaultConfiguration = settingKey[Option[Configuration]]("Defines the configuration used when none is specified for a dependency in ivyXML.").withRank(CSetting)