diff --git a/openjpa-kernel/pom.xml b/openjpa-kernel/pom.xml
index 960d24377..6b2a579e9 100644
--- a/openjpa-kernel/pom.xml
+++ b/openjpa-kernel/pom.xml
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@
     <name>OpenJPA Kernel</name>
     <description>OpenJPA Kernel</description>
 
+    <properties>
+        <!-- default location of jconsole.jar on most platforms -->
+        <jconsoleHome>${java.home}/../lib</jconsoleHome>
+    </properties>
+
     <dependencies>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.apache.openjpa</groupId>
@@ -70,11 +75,27 @@
             <artifactId>jconsole</artifactId>
             <version>1.6.0</version>
             <scope>system</scope>
-            <systemPath>${java.home}/../lib/jconsole.jar</systemPath>
+            <systemPath>${jconsoleHome}/jconsole.jar</systemPath>
         </dependency>
         
     </dependencies>
 
+    <profiles>
+        <profile>
+            <id>macosx</id>
+            <activation>
+                <activeByDefault>false</activeByDefault>
+                <os>
+                    <family>mac</family>
+                </os>
+            </activation>
+            <properties>
+                <!-- location of jconsole.jar on MacOSX -->
+                <jconsoleHome>${java.home}/lib</jconsoleHome>
+            </properties>
+        </profile>
+    </profiles>
+
     <build>
         <plugins>
             <plugin>