diff --git a/config_host.mk.in b/config_host.mk.in
index 6cea6ccf795e..d08fac922239 100644
--- a/config_host.mk.in
+++ b/config_host.mk.in
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ export JAVAIFLAGS=@JAVAIFLAGS@
 export JAVAIFLAGS_FOR_BUILD=@JAVAIFLAGS_FOR_BUILD@
 export JAVA_CLASSPATH_NOT_SET=@JAVA_CLASSPATH_NOT_SET@
 export JAVAINTERPRETER=@JAVAINTERPRETER@
+export JAVA_HAS_ZERO_VM=@JAVA_HAS_ZERO_VM@
 export JAVA_HOME=@JAVA_HOME@
 export JAVA_HOME_FOR_BUILD=@JAVA_HOME_FOR_BUILD@
 export JAVA_SOURCE_VER=@JAVA_SOURCE_VER@
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 06398bfa99a7..06835ae884c4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -7826,6 +7826,14 @@ if test "$ENABLE_JAVA" != "" -a "$cross_compiling" != "yes"; then
             JAVAIFLAGS=-Xmx64M
             # set to limit VM usage for javac
             JAVACFLAGS=-J-Xmx128M
+
+            AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether $JAVAINTERPRETER is using the Zero VM])
+            if $JAVAINTERPRETER -version 2>&1 | grep -q Zero; then
+               JAVA_HAS_ZERO_VM=y
+               AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+            else
+               AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+            fi
         fi
     else
         AC_MSG_ERROR([Java not found. You need at least JDK 9])
@@ -7841,6 +7849,7 @@ else
         JAVAIFLAGS=$JAVAIFLAGS_FOR_BUILD
     fi
 fi
+AC_SUBST(JAVA_HAS_ZERO_VM)
 
 dnl ===================================================================
 dnl Checks for javac
diff --git a/odk/Module_odk.mk b/odk/Module_odk.mk
index 410f8cf8ef1e..bd05d4bba200 100644
--- a/odk/Module_odk.mk
+++ b/odk/Module_odk.mk
@@ -60,10 +62,14 @@ $(eval $(call gb_Module_add_check_targets,odk,\
 ifneq ($(filter $(OS),LINUX MACOSX),)
 $(eval $(call gb_Module_add_subsequentcheck_targets,odk, \
     CustomTarget_build-examples \
+))
+ifneq ($(JAVA_HAS_ZERO_VM),y)
+$(eval $(call gb_Module_add_subsequentcheck_targets,odk, \
     $(if $(ENABLE_JAVA),\
         CustomTarget_build-examples_java \
     ) \
 ))
 endif
+endif
 
 # vim: set noet sw=4 ts=4: