diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/java/akka/dispatch/forkjoin/ForkJoinPool.java b/akka-actor/src/main/java/akka/dispatch/forkjoin/ForkJoinPool.java
index 0ad93527df1..4c7a332ed15 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/java/akka/dispatch/forkjoin/ForkJoinPool.java
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/java/akka/dispatch/forkjoin/ForkJoinPool.java
@@ -1559,7 +1559,7 @@ private static final synchronized int nextPoolId() {
     private static final int SHUTDOWN    = 1 << 31;
     private static final int PL_LOCK     = 2;
     private static final int PL_SIGNAL   = 1;
-    private static final int PL_SPINS    = 1 << 8;
+    private static final int PL_SPINS    = Integer.getInteger("akka.dispatch.forkjoin.spins", 1 << 8);
 
     // access mode for WorkQueue
     static final int LIFO_QUEUE          =  0;