diff --git a/gnu/packages/java.scm b/gnu/packages/java.scm
index 9664d749fb..1a84cf2378 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/java.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/java.scm
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 ;;; Copyright © 2017 Thomas Danckaert <post@thomasdanckaert.be>
 ;;; Copyright © 2016, 2017, 2018 Alex Vong <alexvong1995@gmail.com>
 ;;; Copyright © 2017, 2019 Tobias Geerinckx-Rice <me@tobias.gr>
-;;; Copyright © 2018 Gábor Boskovits <boskovits@gmail.com>
+;;; Copyright © 2018, 2019 Gábor Boskovits <boskovits@gmail.com>
 ;;; Copyright © 2018 Chris Marusich <cmmarusich@gmail.com>
 ;;; Copyright © 2018 Efraim Flashner <efraim@flashner.co.il>
 ;;;
@@ -879,6 +879,11 @@ (define-public icedtea-6
                      (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "freetype")
                                     "/lib"))
              #t))
+         (add-before 'build 'disable-os-version-check
+           ;; allow build on linux major version change
+           (lambda _
+             (setenv "DISABLE_HOTSPOT_OS_VERSION_CHECK" "ok")
+             #t))
          (replace 'install
            (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
              (let ((doc (string-append (assoc-ref outputs "doc")