diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
index 710d5ac1e..186ddc3d7 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Javac.java
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ public class Javac extends MatchingTask {
             classpath.setLocation(destDir);
         }
 
-        // Compine the build classpath with the system classpath, in an 
+        // Combine the build classpath with the system classpath, in an 
         // order determined by the value of build.classpath
 
         if (compileClasspath == null) {
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Rmic.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Rmic.java
index e5cdc90e3..75b6cf47d 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Rmic.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/Rmic.java
@@ -357,15 +357,14 @@ public class Rmic extends MatchingTask {
         // untouched classes are on classpath
         Path classpath = new Path(project, baseFile.getAbsolutePath());
 
-        // add our classpath to the mix
-
-        if (compileClasspath != null) {
-            classpath.addExisting(compileClasspath);
+        // Combine the build classpath with the system classpath, in an 
+        // order determined by the value of build.classpath
+        if (compileClasspath == null) {
+            classpath.addExisting(Path.systemClasspath);
+        } else {
+            classpath.addExisting(compileClasspath.concatSystemClasspath());
         }
 
-        // add the system classpath
-        classpath.addExisting(Path.systemClasspath);
-
         // in jdk 1.2, the system classes are not on the visible classpath.
         if (Project.getJavaVersion().startsWith("1.2")) {
             String bootcp = System.getProperty("sun.boot.class.path");