diff --git a/lisp/ob-java.el b/lisp/ob-java.el
index c9698bd72..07ff8e9ab 100644
--- a/lisp/ob-java.el
+++ b/lisp/ob-java.el
@@ -164,7 +164,14 @@ replaced in this string.")
 
 (defun org-babel-execute:java (body params)
   "Execute a java source block with BODY code and PARAMS params."
-  (let* (;; if true, run from babel temp directory
+  (let* (;; allow header overrides
+         (org-babel-java-compiler
+          (or (cdr (assq :javac params))
+              org-babel-java-compiler))
+         (org-babel-java-command
+          (or (cdr (assq :java params))
+              org-babel-java-command))
+         ;; if true, run from babel temp directory
          (run-from-temp (not (alist-get :dir params)))
          ;; class and package
          (fullclassname (or (cdr (assq :classname params))