diff --git a/python/build/release.xml b/python/build/release.xml
index 14809988bd6b..060af992a318 100644
--- a/python/build/release.xml
+++ b/python/build/release.xml
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@
             debug="${compiler.debug}"
             nowarn="${compiler.generate.no.warnings}"
             memorymaximumsize="${compiler.max.memory}"
-            fork="true">
+            fork="true"
+            executable="${jdk15.home}/bin/javac">
       <compilerarg line="${compiler.args}"/>
       <classpath refid="classpath.lib"/>
       <src refid="sourcepath"/>
diff --git a/python/build/release_bootstrap.xml b/python/build/release_bootstrap.xml
index 30f119322791..ea5e66e4d946 100644
--- a/python/build/release_bootstrap.xml
+++ b/python/build/release_bootstrap.xml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
       <jvmarg line="-Xms64m -Xmx512m"/>
       <jvmarg line="-Dbuild.number=${build.number}"/>
+      <jvmarg line="-Djdk15.home=${jdk15.home}"/>
 
       <classpath>
         <fileset dir="${project.home}/build/lib">