diff --git a/datamover/dist/etc/datamover.conf b/datamover/dist/etc/datamover.conf
index f80c168ceddd80197d911be53f9a1bc8864d8c4f..752a3bb80302f357c03e3c341f7c9cad0a86c8d4 100644
--- a/datamover/dist/etc/datamover.conf
+++ b/datamover/dist/etc/datamover.conf
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 #
 # Home directory of the JRE that should be used
 #
-#JAVA_HOME=/usr/java/latest
+#JAVA_HOME=${JAVA_HOME:=/usr/java/latest}
 
 #
 # Options to the JRE
 #
-JAVA_OPTS=-server
+JAVA_OPTS=${JAVA_OPTS:=-server}