diff --git a/build/moz.configure/java.configure b/build/moz.configure/java.configure
index 0bb0a22c712f..c5fd7de3392d 100644
--- a/build/moz.configure/java.configure
+++ b/build/moz.configure/java.configure
@@ -14,12 +14,14 @@ option(
 )
 
 
-@depends("--with-java-bin-path", host, toolchains_base_dir)
+@depends("--with-java-bin-path", host, toolchains_base_dir, want_bootstrap)
+@imports(_from="mozboot.android", _import="ensure_java")
 @imports(_from="mozboot.android", _import="JavaLocationFailedException")
 @imports(_from="mozboot.android", _import="locate_java_bin_path")
 @imports(_from="os", _import="environ")
 @imports(_from="os.path", _import="dirname")
-def java_search_paths(path, host, toolchains_base_dir):
+@imports(_from="__builtin__", _import="Exception")
+def java_search_paths(path, host, toolchains_base_dir, want_bootstrap):
     if path:
         # Look for javac and jar in the specified path.
         return path
@@ -35,7 +37,25 @@ def java_search_paths(path, host, toolchains_base_dir):
             )
         return [path]
     except JavaLocationFailedException as e:
-        die(str(e))
+        if not want_bootstrap("jdk"):
+            die(str(e))
+
+        os_name = {"Linux": "linux", "Darwin": "macosx", "WINNT": "windows"}.get(
+            host.kernel
+        )
+        if os_name is None:
+            die(
+                "We don't support bootstrapping the Java SDK on {0} yet!".format(
+                    host.kernel
+                )
+            )
+        os_arch = host.cpu
+
+        try:
+            # FIXME: should use the bootstrap.configure mechanism instead
+            return [str(ensure_java(os_name, os_arch))]
+        except Exception as e:
+            die(str(e))
 
 
 # Finds the given java tool, failing with a custom error message if we can't
diff --git a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_checks_configure.py b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_checks_configure.py
index e2506fb18773..f5550627f2e3 100644
--- a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_checks_configure.py
+++ b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/test/configure/test_checks_configure.py
@@ -554,6 +554,7 @@ class TestChecksConfigure(unittest.TestCase):
                     def host(_):
                         return namespace(os='unknown', kernel='unknown')
                     toolchains_base_dir = depends(when=True)(lambda: '/mozbuild')
+                    want_bootstrap = dependable(lambda: lambda _: False)
                     include('%(topsrcdir)s/build/moz.configure/java.configure')
                 """
                 % {"topsrcdir": topsrcdir}