diff --git a/dev-support/jenkinsEnv.sh b/dev-support/jenkinsEnv.sh
index 499245c2e40..d2e4f6551d4 100755
--- a/dev-support/jenkinsEnv.sh
+++ b/dev-support/jenkinsEnv.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export CLOVER_HOME=/home/jenkins/tools/clover/latest
 export MAVEN_HOME=/home/jenkins/tools/maven/latest
 
 export PATH=$PATH:$JAVA_HOME/bin:$ANT_HOME/bin:
-export MAVEN_OPTS="-Xmx3100M -XX:-UsePerfData"
+export MAVEN_OPTS="${MAVEN_OPTS:-"-Xmx3100M -XX:-UsePerfData -XX:MaxPermSize=256m"}"
 
 ulimit -n