diff --git a/scripts/update_api.py b/scripts/update_api.py
index db1bf9db500..0697c1793e8 100755
--- a/scripts/update_api.py
+++ b/scripts/update_api.py
@@ -542,8 +542,13 @@ def mk_java(java_dir, package_name):
     java_native.write('  public static native void setInternalErrorHandler(long ctx);\n\n')
 
     java_native.write('  static {\n')
-    java_native.write('    try { System.loadLibrary("z3java"); }\n')
-    java_native.write('    catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError ex) { System.loadLibrary("libz3java"); }\n')
+    java_native.write('    if (null == System.getProperty("z3.skipLibraryLoad")) {\n')
+    java_native.write('      try {\n')
+    java_native.write('        System.loadLibrary("z3java");\n')
+    java_native.write('      } catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError ex) {\n')
+    java_native.write('        System.loadLibrary("libz3java");\n')
+    java_native.write('      }\n')
+    java_native.write('    }\n')
     java_native.write('  }\n')
 
     java_native.write('\n')