diff --git a/pitest-maven/src/main/java/org/pitest/maven/AbstractPitMojo.java b/pitest-maven/src/main/java/org/pitest/maven/AbstractPitMojo.java
index 0203fa0c8..7eee561e6 100644
--- a/pitest-maven/src/main/java/org/pitest/maven/AbstractPitMojo.java
+++ b/pitest-maven/src/main/java/org/pitest/maven/AbstractPitMojo.java
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ public class AbstractPitMojo extends AbstractMojo {
   /**
    * Arguments to pass to child processes
    */
-  @Parameter
+  @Parameter(property = "jvmArgs")
   private ArrayList<String>           jvmArgs;
 
   /**