diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index c69217ec3..6c61419d7 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ Other changes:
   to the standard Java 1.4 doclet. The element is ignored when not running
   on Java 1.4.
 
+* <java>'s source attribute is now enabled for jikes as well.
+
 Changes from Ant 1.4 to Ant 1.4.1
 ===========================================
 
diff --git a/docs/manual/CoreTasks/javac.html b/docs/manual/CoreTasks/javac.html
index d49fe6c3f..55f54d5e0 100644
--- a/docs/manual/CoreTasks/javac.html
+++ b/docs/manual/CoreTasks/javac.html
@@ -284,11 +284,17 @@ invoking the compiler.</p>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <td valign="top">source</td>
+
     <td valign="top">Value of the <code>-source</code> command-line
     switch; will be ignored by all implementations except
-    <code>modern</code>. Legal values are <code>1.3</code> and
-    <code>1.4</code> &ndash; by default, no <code>-source</code> argument
-    will be used at all.</td>
+    <code>modern</code> and <code>jikes</code>.<br>
+    If you use this attribute together with <code>jikes</code>, you
+    must make sure that your version of jikes supports the
+    <code>-source</code> switch.<br>
+    Legal values are <code>1.3</code> and <code>1.4</code> &ndash; by
+    default, no <code>-source</code> argument will be used at
+    all.</td>
+
     <td align="center" valign="top">No</td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/compilers/Jikes.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/compilers/Jikes.java
index 28a16d3a9..e8d1df1c3 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/compilers/Jikes.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/compilers/Jikes.java
@@ -209,6 +209,11 @@ public class Jikes extends DefaultCompilerAdapter {
             cmd.createArgument().setValue("+F");
         }
 
+        if (attributes.getSource() != null) {
+            cmd.createArgument().setValue("-source");
+            cmd.createArgument().setValue(attributes.getSource());
+        }
+
         addCurrentCompilerArgs(cmd);
 
         int firstFileName = cmd.size();