diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/java/JavaCompiler.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/java/JavaCompiler.kt
index bfc77245..791d7c14 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/java/JavaCompiler.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/plugin/java/JavaCompiler.kt
@@ -28,32 +28,57 @@ class JavaCompiler @Inject constructor(val jvmCompiler: JvmCompiler) {
                 return TaskResult()
             }
 
-            val allArgs = arrayListOf(
-                    "-d", KFiles.makeDir(info.directory!!, info.outputDir.path).path)
-            if (info.dependencies.size > 0) {
-                allArgs.add("-classpath")
-                allArgs.add(info.dependencies.map { it.jarFile.get() }.joinToString(File.pathSeparator))
-            }
-            allArgs.addAll(info.compilerArgs)
-
+            var command: String
+            var errorMessage: String
             val compiler = ToolProvider.getSystemJavaCompiler()
-            val fileManager = compiler.getStandardFileManager(null, null, null)
-            val fileObjects = fileManager.getJavaFileObjectsFromFiles(info.sourceFiles.map { File(it) })
-            val dc = DiagnosticCollector<JavaFileObject>()
-            val classes = arrayListOf<String>()
-            val writer = PrintWriter(System.out)
-            val task = compiler.getTask(writer, fileManager, dc, allArgs, classes, fileObjects)
+            val result =
+                if (compiler != null) {
+                    log(2, "Found system Java compiler, using the compiler API")
+                    val allArgs = arrayListOf(
+                            "-d", KFiles.makeDir(info.directory!!, info.outputDir.path).path)
+                    if (info.dependencies.size > 0) {
+                        allArgs.add("-classpath")
+                        allArgs.add(info.dependencies.map { it.jarFile.get() }.joinToString(File.pathSeparator))
+                    }
+                    allArgs.addAll(info.compilerArgs)
 
-            val command = "javac " + allArgs.joinToString(" ") + " " + info.sourceFiles.joinToString(" ")
-            log(2, "Launching\n$command")
+                    val fileManager = compiler.getStandardFileManager(null, null, null)
+                    val fileObjects = fileManager.getJavaFileObjectsFromFiles(info.sourceFiles.map { File(it) })
+                    val dc = DiagnosticCollector<JavaFileObject>()
+                    val classes = arrayListOf<String>()
+                    val writer = PrintWriter(System.out)
+                    val task = compiler.getTask(writer, fileManager, dc, allArgs, classes, fileObjects)
 
-            val result = task.call()
+                    command = "javac " + allArgs.joinToString(" ") + " " + info.sourceFiles.joinToString(" ")
+                    log(2, "Launching\n$command")
+
+                    val result = task.call()
+                    errorMessage = dc.diagnostics.joinToString("\n")
+                    result
+                } else {
+                    log(2, "Didn't find system Java compiler, forking javac")
+                    val allArgs = arrayListOf(
+                            executable.absolutePath,
+                            "-d", KFiles.makeDir(info.directory!!, info.outputDir.path).path)
+                    allArgs.addAll(info.sourceFiles)
+
+                    val pb = ProcessBuilder(allArgs)
+                    pb.inheritIO()
+                    val line = allArgs.joinToString(" ")
+                    log(1, "  Compiling ${info.sourceFiles.size} files")
+                    log(2, "  Compiling $line")
+
+                    command = allArgs.joinToString(" ") + " " + info.sourceFiles.joinToString(" ")
+                    val process = pb.start()
+                    val errorCode = process.waitFor()
+                    errorMessage = "Something went wrong running javac, need to switch to RunCommand"
+                    errorCode == 0
+                }
 
             return if (result) {
                     TaskResult(true, "Compilation succeeded")
                 } else {
-                    val message = "Compilation errors, command:\n$command" +
-                        dc.diagnostics.joinToString("\n")
+                    val message = "Compilation errors, command:\n$command" + errorMessage
                     log(1, message)
                     TaskResult(false, message)
                 }