diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/regexp/RegexpMatcherFactory.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/regexp/RegexpMatcherFactory.java
index 7fbc79864..6549b06b9 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/regexp/RegexpMatcherFactory.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/regexp/RegexpMatcherFactory.java
@@ -133,4 +133,20 @@ public class RegexpMatcherFactory {
             throw new BuildException(t);
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks if a RegExp-Matcher is available.
+     * @param project  The project to check for (may be <code>null</code>)
+     * @return <code>true</code> if available otherwise <code>false</code>
+     */
+    public static boolean regexpMatcherPresent(Project project) {
+        try {
+            // The factory throws a BuildException if no usable matcher 
+            // cant be instantiated. We dont need the matcher itself here.
+            (new RegexpMatcherFactory()).newRegexpMatcher(project);
+            return true;
+        } catch (Throwable ex) {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/tests/junit/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/ManifestClassPathTest.java b/src/tests/junit/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/ManifestClassPathTest.java
index b7b0c3048..104e370d4 100644
--- a/src/tests/junit/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/ManifestClassPathTest.java
+++ b/src/tests/junit/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/ManifestClassPathTest.java
@@ -18,9 +18,12 @@
 package org.apache.tools.ant.taskdefs;
 
 
+import org.apache.tools.ant.BuildException;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.BuildFileTest;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.taskdefs.condition.Os;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.util.JavaEnvUtils;
-import org.apache.tools.ant.BuildFileTest;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.util.regexp.RegexpMatcher;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.util.regexp.RegexpMatcherFactory;
 
 /**
  * Tests &lt;bm:manifestclasspath&gt;.
@@ -97,8 +100,11 @@ public class ManifestClassPathTest
     }
 
     public void testPseudoTahoeRefid() {
+        if (!RegexpMatcherFactory.regexpMatcherPresent(project)) {
+            System.out.println("Test 'testPseudoTahoeRefid' skipped because no regexp matcher is present.");
+            return;
+        }
         executeTarget("test-pseudo-tahoe-refid");
-
         assertPropertyEquals("jar.classpath", "classes/dsp-core/ " +
                                               "classes/dsp-pres/ " +
                                               "classes/dsp-void/ " +
@@ -108,8 +114,11 @@ public class ManifestClassPathTest
     }
 
     public void testPseudoTahoeNested() {
+        if (!RegexpMatcherFactory.regexpMatcherPresent(project)) {
+            System.out.println("Test 'testPseudoTahoeNested' skipped because no regexp matcher is present.");
+            return;
+        }
         executeTarget("test-pseudo-tahoe-nested");
-
         assertPropertyEquals("jar.classpath", "classes/dsp-core/ " +
                                               "classes/dsp-pres/ " +
                                               "classes/dsp-void/ " +
@@ -134,8 +143,7 @@ public class ManifestClassPathTest
                                               "../../resources/dsp-void/");
     }
     public void testInternationalGerman() {
-        if (!JavaEnvUtils.isAtLeastJavaVersion(JavaEnvUtils.JAVA_1_4))
-        {
+        if (!JavaEnvUtils.isAtLeastJavaVersion(JavaEnvUtils.JAVA_1_4)) {
             System.out.println("Test with international characters skipped under pre 1.4 jvm.");
             return;
         }
@@ -144,7 +152,7 @@ public class ManifestClassPathTest
             
     }
     public void testInternationalHebrew() {
-        if (!JavaEnvUtils.isAtLeastJavaVersion(JavaEnvUtils.JAVA_1_4))        {
+        if (!JavaEnvUtils.isAtLeastJavaVersion(JavaEnvUtils.JAVA_1_4)) {
             System.out.println("Test with international characters skipped under pre 1.4 jvm.");
             return;
         }