diff --git a/src/script/ant b/src/script/ant
index 87858e865..a97c5c97b 100644
--- a/src/script/ant
+++ b/src/script/ant
@@ -44,11 +44,18 @@ if $no_config ; then
   rpm_mode=false
   usejikes=$use_jikes_default
 else
+  orig_ant_home=$ANT_HOME
   # load system-wide ant configuration
   if [ -f "/etc/ant.conf" ] ; then
     . /etc/ant.conf
   fi
 
+  # Normally users do not expect that /etc/ant.conf will override ANT_HOME
+  if [ -n "$orig_ant_home" -a "$orig_ant_home" != "$ANT_HOME" ] ; then
+    echo "Warning: ANT_HOME has been overridden by /etc/ant.conf from $orig_ant_home to $ANT_HOME"
+    echo "         Use ant -noconfig if this is not desired."
+  fi
+
   # load user ant configuration
   if [ -f "$HOME/.ant/ant.conf" ] ; then
     . $HOME/.ant/ant.conf