diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/ExecTask.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/ExecTask.java
index 74a6008bc..b057295e9 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/ExecTask.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/ExecTask.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import java.util.Vector;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.BuildException;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.Project;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.Task;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.ProjectComponent;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.Commandline;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.Environment;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.Path;
@@ -72,6 +73,24 @@ public class ExecTask extends Task {
      */
     private boolean vmLauncher = true;
 
+
+    /**
+     * Create an instance.
+     * Needs to be configured by binding to a project.
+     */
+    public ExecTask() {
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * create an instance that is helping another task.
+     * Project, OwningTarget, TaskName and description are all
+     * pulled out
+     * @param owner task that we belong to
+     */
+    public ExecTask(Task owner) {
+        bindToOwner(owner);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Set whether or not you want the process to be spawned.
      * Default is false.
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Java.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Java.java
index 438b10ab7..903fa3035 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Java.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Java.java
@@ -73,6 +73,20 @@ public class Java extends Task {
     private boolean spawn = false;
     private boolean incompatibleWithSpawn = false;
 
+    /**
+     * Normal constructor
+     */
+    public Java() {
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * create a bound task
+     * @param owner owner
+     */
+    public Java(Task owner) {
+        bindToOwner(owner);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Do the execution.
      * @throws BuildException if failOnError is set to true and the application