diff --git a/Makefile.cfg b/Makefile.cfg
index bb5148c55e3b17d22a04929ca72df8c909a8e06c..91988b776cdf0fdcf6b6a3d83386fb5cb876a725 100644
--- a/Makefile.cfg
+++ b/Makefile.cfg
@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@ LTTNGUSTLOGGER := no
 
 # Path of the Java Developement Kit installation
 # (must be at least version  1.5.0_10)
+ifndef JDKDIR
 JDKDIR := /usr/lib/jvm/default-java
+endif
 
 # Path of OpenSSL installation: (always required)
 OPENSSL_DIR := default