diff --git a/distribution/src/bin/openfire.sh b/distribution/src/bin/openfire.sh
index 4f497a2441..afa619386b 100644
--- a/distribution/src/bin/openfire.sh
+++ b/distribution/src/bin/openfire.sh
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ case $arguments in
     sed "s/example.org/$HOSTNAME/g" $OPENFIRE_HOME/conf/openfire-demoboot.xml > $OPENFIRE_HOME/conf/openfire.xml
     ;;
     *)
-	# unknown option
+	# unknown option, pass through the Java command
+	JAVACMD="$JAVACMD $arguments"
     ;;
 esac
 done