diff --git a/distribution/src/main/packaging/env/elasticsearch b/distribution/src/main/packaging/env/elasticsearch
index 48a0eddc1b6..3662842ba45 100644
--- a/distribution/src/main/packaging/env/elasticsearch
+++ b/distribution/src/main/packaging/env/elasticsearch
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 # Elasticsearch home directory
 #ES_HOME=/usr/share/elasticsearch
 
+# Elasticsearch Java path
+#JAVA_HOME=
+
 # Elasticsearch configuration directory
 #CONF_DIR=${path.conf}
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/setup/install/sysconfig-file.asciidoc b/docs/reference/setup/install/sysconfig-file.asciidoc
index 4ba57139818..c7351610153 100644
--- a/docs/reference/setup/install/sysconfig-file.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/setup/install/sysconfig-file.asciidoc
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 
   The group to run as, defaults to `elasticsearch`.
 
+`JAVA_HOME`::
+
+  Set a custom Java path to be used.
+
 `ES_HEAP_SIZE`::
 
   The heap size to start with.