diff --git a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/schema/SimpleDriverDataSource.java b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/schema/SimpleDriverDataSource.java
index 37d74f4f8..916494669 100644
--- a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/schema/SimpleDriverDataSource.java
+++ b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/schema/SimpleDriverDataSource.java
@@ -81,7 +81,14 @@ public class SimpleDriverDataSource
     }
     
     protected Connection getSimpleConnection(Properties props) throws SQLException {
-    	Connection con = getSimpleDriver().connect(_connectionURL, props == null? new Properties() : props);
+		Properties conProps = new Properties();
+		if (props != null) {
+			conProps.putAll(props);
+		}
+		if (_connectionProperties != null) {
+			conProps.putAll(_connectionProperties);
+		}
+    	Connection con = getSimpleDriver().connect(_connectionURL, conProps);
     	if (con == null) {
             throw new SQLException(_eloc.get("poolds-null",
                     _connectionDriverName, _connectionURL).getMessage());