--- a/qtjava/javalib/org/kde/qt/Makefile.am	
+++ a/qtjava/javalib/org/kde/qt/Makefile.am	
@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@ noinst_JAVA = $(EXTRA_DIST)
 
 JAVAROOT = ../../..
 CLASSPATH = $(srcdir)/../../..
-JAVACFLAGS = -classpath $(CLASSPATH)
+JAVACFLAGS = -classpath $(CLASSPATH) _JAVACFLAGS_
 # Prevent stupid automake from putting JAVAC=javac in Makefile.in
 JAVAC = @JAVAC@