diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
index df51a5a4b..9b9a438dc 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
@@ -180,6 +180,16 @@ public class Javac extends MatchingTask {
         return src.createPath();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Recreate src
+     *
+     * @return a nested src element.
+     */
+    protected Path recreateSrc() {
+        src = null;
+        return createSrc();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Set the source dirs to find the source Java files.
      */