diff --git a/java/tya/Makefile b/java/tya/Makefile
index b4da46651c54..0c6b1ed3491e 100644
--- a/java/tya/Makefile
+++ b/java/tya/Makefile
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ ONLY_FOR_ARCHS=	i386
 GNU_CONFIGURE=	yes
 CONFIGURE_ARGS+=	--with-jdk=${JAVADIR}
 
-JAVADIR=	${LOCALBASE}/jdk1.1.8
+JAVADIR?=	${LOCALBASE}/jdk1.1.8
 JAVALIBDIR=	${PREFIX}/lib/tya
 
 post-configure: