diff --git a/compiler/backend/src/org/jetbrains/jet/compiler/CompileEnvironment.java b/compiler/backend/src/org/jetbrains/jet/compiler/CompileEnvironment.java
index 2d2722e4810..63f7507da79 100644
--- a/compiler/backend/src/org/jetbrains/jet/compiler/CompileEnvironment.java
+++ b/compiler/backend/src/org/jetbrains/jet/compiler/CompileEnvironment.java
@@ -97,6 +97,13 @@ public class CompileEnvironment {
     
     public static File findRtJar(boolean failOnError) {
         String javaHome = System.getenv("JAVA_HOME");
+        if (javaHome == null) {
+            javaHome = System.getProperty("java.home");
+            if ("jre".equals(new File(javaHome).getName())) {
+                javaHome = new File(javaHome).getParent();
+            }
+        }
+
         File rtJar;
         if (javaHome == null) {
             rtJar = findActiveRtJar(failOnError);