diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/NetRexxC.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/NetRexxC.java
index 9ad198d83..d6a96a484 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/NetRexxC.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/NetRexxC.java
@@ -564,9 +564,6 @@ public class NetRexxC extends MatchingTask {
         if ((p = getProject().getProperty("ant.netrexxc.format")) != null) {
             this.format = Project.toBoolean(p);
         }
-        if ((p = getProject().getProperty("ant.netrexxc.java")) != null) {
-            this.java = Project.toBoolean(p);
-        }
         if ((p = getProject().getProperty("ant.netrexxc.keep")) != null) {
             this.keep = Project.toBoolean(p);
         }