diff --git a/jpos/src/dist/bin/q2 b/jpos/src/dist/bin/q2
index 8b86e07024..f04118e9d8 100755
--- a/jpos/src/dist/bin/q2
+++ b/jpos/src/dist/bin/q2
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ else
   rm -f jpos.pid
 
   # Separate -D parameters from other parameters
-  JAVA_OPTS=""
+  JAVA_OPTS="${JAVA_OPTS:-}"
   OTHER_OPTS=""
   for arg in "$@"; do
     case $arg in