diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 74fb990a22..e4dd9a7e71 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ allprojects{
         arcHash = null
         
         debugged = {
-            return new File(projectDir.parent, '../debug').exists() && System.properties["release"] == null
+            return new File(projectDir.parent, '../debug').exists() && !project.hasProperty("release")
         }
 
         localArc = {
-            return (System.properties["release"] == null || System.properties["release"] == "false") && new File(projectDir.parent, '../Arc').exists()
+            return (!project.hasProperty("release")) && new File(projectDir.parent, '../Arc').exists()
         }
 
         getArcHash = {
diff --git a/settings.gradle b/settings.gradle
index 2f0aa64e78..4a6e6bf82a 100644
--- a/settings.gradle
+++ b/settings.gradle
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if(new File(settingsDir, 'local.properties').exists()){
     println("No local.properties found. Not loading Android module.")
 }
 
-if(System.properties["release"] == null || System.properties["release"] == "false"){
+if(!hasProperty("release")){
     if (new File(settingsDir, '../Arc').exists()) {
         use(':Arc', '../Arc')
         use(':Arc:arc-core', '../Arc/arc-core')