diff --git a/bin/decoder4u b/bin/decoder4u
index c0504c17bb..84d808b8bf 100755
--- a/bin/decoder4u
+++ b/bin/decoder4u
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ split_cli $@
 
 export MALLOC_ARENA_MAX=1
 
-java -Xmx2304m -Xms1280m -XX:+UseSerialGC ${jvm_options[@]} \
+java ${JAVA_OPTS-} -Xmx2304m -Xms1280m -XX:+UseSerialGC ${jvm_options[@]} \
     -cp ${COATJAVA_CLASSPATH:-''} \
     org.jlab.detector.decode.CLASDecoder4U \
     ${class_options[@]}