diff --git a/maven-wrapper/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/wrapper/DefaultDownloader.java b/maven-wrapper/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/wrapper/DefaultDownloader.java
index 943189bfca..61957239e4 100644
--- a/maven-wrapper/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/wrapper/DefaultDownloader.java
+++ b/maven-wrapper/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/wrapper/DefaultDownloader.java
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ private void configureProxyAuthentication()
 
     private void configureAuthentication()
     {
-        if ( System.getProperty( "MVNW_USERNAME" ) != null && System.getProperty( "MVNW_PASSWORD" ) != null
+        if ( System.getenv( MVNW_USERNAME ) != null && System.getenv( MVNW_PASSWORD ) != null
             && System.getProperty( "http.proxyUser" ) == null )
         {
             Authenticator.setDefault( new Authenticator()
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ private void configureAuthentication()
                 @Override
                 protected PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication()
                 {
-                    return new PasswordAuthentication( System.getProperty( "MVNW_USERNAME" ),
-                                                       System.getProperty( "MVNW_PASSWORD" ).toCharArray() );
+                    return new PasswordAuthentication( System.getenv( MVNW_USERNAME ),
+                                                       System.getenv( MVNW_PASSWORD ).toCharArray() );
                 }
             } );
         }