diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javadoc.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javadoc.java
index 1e385471c..79655024b 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javadoc.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javadoc.java
@@ -622,8 +622,8 @@ public class Javadoc extends Task {
                 String msg = "destDir attribute must be set!";
                 throw new BuildException(msg);
             }
-            cmd.createArgument().setValue("-d");
-            cmd.createArgument().setFile(destDir);
+            toExecute.createArgument().setValue("-d");
+            toExecute.createArgument().setFile(destDir);
         }
 
 // --------------------------------- javadoc2 arguments for default doclet