diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/Vars.java b/core/src/mindustry/Vars.java
index 3f44a0511e..f42d55ad13 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/Vars.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/Vars.java
@@ -199,6 +199,8 @@ public class Vars implements Loadable{
     public static final String saveExtension = "msav";
     /** schematic file extension */
     public static final String schematicExtension = "msch";
+    /** path to the java executable */
+    public static String javaPath;
 
     /** list of all locales that can be switched to */
     public static Locale[] locales;
@@ -293,6 +295,10 @@ public class Vars implements Loadable{
         pathfinder = new Pathfinder();
         bases = new BaseRegistry();
         constants = new GlobalConstants();
+        javaPath =
+            new Fi(OS.prop("java.home")).child("bin/java").exists() ? new Fi(OS.prop("java.home")).child("bin/java").absolutePath() :
+            Core.files.local("jre/bin/java").exists() ? Core.files.local("jre/bin/java").absolutePath() :
+            "java";
 
         state = new GameState();
 
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/net/BeControl.java b/core/src/mindustry/net/BeControl.java
index 35c881ea31..3f4a7faa76 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/net/BeControl.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/net/BeControl.java
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ public class BeControl{
                     download(updateUrl, file, i -> length[0] = i, v -> progress[0] = v, () -> cancel[0], () -> {
                         try{
                             Runtime.getRuntime().exec(OS.isMac ?
-                                new String[]{"java", "-XstartOnFirstThread", "-DlastBuild=" + Version.build, "-Dberestart", "-Dbecopy=" + fileDest.absolutePath(), "-jar", file.absolutePath()} :
-                                new String[]{"java", "-DlastBuild=" + Version.build, "-Dberestart", "-Dbecopy=" + fileDest.absolutePath(), "-jar", file.absolutePath()}
+                                new String[]{javaPath, "-XstartOnFirstThread", "-DlastBuild=" + Version.build, "-Dberestart", "-Dbecopy=" + fileDest.absolutePath(), "-jar", file.absolutePath()} :
+                                new String[]{javaPath, "-DlastBuild=" + Version.build, "-Dberestart", "-Dbecopy=" + fileDest.absolutePath(), "-jar", file.absolutePath()}
                             );
                             System.exit(0);
                         }catch(IOException e){