diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index e29c3c327..ef7a83def 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ Changes that could break older environments:
 Fixed bugs:
 -----------
 
+ * ant.bat can now also process the -noclasspath switch when it is 
+   the first switch on a command line.
+   Bugzilla Report 48186.
+
  * <fixcrlf> now tries to delete the created temporary files earlier.
    Bugzilla Report 48506.
 
diff --git a/src/script/ant.bat b/src/script/ant.bat
index be7cb0198..ff85b6de6 100755
--- a/src/script/ant.bat
+++ b/src/script/ant.bat
@@ -59,9 +59,6 @@ if "%CLASSPATH%"=="" set _USE_CLASSPATH=no
 
 rem Slurp the command line arguments. This loop allows for an unlimited number
 rem of arguments (up to the command line limit, anyway).
-set ANT_CMD_LINE_ARGS=%1
-if ""%1""=="""" goto doneStart
-shift
 :setupArgs
 if ""%1""=="""" goto doneStart
 if ""%1""==""-noclasspath"" goto clearclasspath