Index: src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/util/Text.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/util/Text.java	(revision 609460)
+++ src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/util/Text.java	(working copy)
@@ -718,12 +718,15 @@
                 String variable = value.substring(p + 2, q);
                 String replacement = variables.getProperty(variable);
                 if (replacement == null) {
-                    if (ignoreMissing) {
-                        replacement = "";
-                    } else {
-                        throw new IllegalArgumentException(
-                                "Replacement not found for ${" + variable + "}.");
-                    }
+                	replacement = System.getProperty(variable);
+                	if (replacement == null) {
+	                    if (ignoreMissing) {
+	                        replacement = "";
+	                    } else {
+	                        throw new IllegalArgumentException(
+	                                "Replacement not found for ${" + variable + "}.");
+	                    }
+                	}
                 }
                 result.append(replacement);
                 p = q + 1;