diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/EnvConfig.java b/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/EnvConfig.java
index add63aa..450f9ba 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/EnvConfig.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/threerings/getdown/data/EnvConfig.java
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public final class EnvConfig {
         String appDir = null, appDirProv = null;
         String appId = null, appIdProv = null;
         String appBase = null, appBaseProv = null;
-
+        String[] sysargs;
         // start with bootstrap.properties config, if avaialble
         try {
             ResourceBundle bundle = ResourceBundle.getBundle("bootstrap");
@@ -74,6 +74,22 @@ public final class EnvConfig {
                 appBase = bundle.getString("appbase");
                 appBaseProv = "bootstrap.properties";
             }
+
+            // Set system properties. Should be in the form:
+            // sysargs = [key1]:[val1] , [key2]:[val2], [key3]
+            if (bundle.containsKey("sysargs")) {
+                sysargs = bundle.getString("sysargs").split(",");
+
+                for (String sysarg : sysargs) {
+                    String[] arg_value = sysarg.trim().split(":", 2);
+                    if(arg_value.length == 2){
+                        System.setProperty(arg_value[0], arg_value[1]);
+                    }else if(arg_value.length == 1) {
+                        System.setProperty(arg_value[0], "");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
         } catch (MissingResourceException e) {
             // bootstrap.properties is optional; no need for a warning
         }