diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 712df11ca03b..9eabac4eee9a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Cmd Tests
         run: |
-          ./project/scripts/sbt ";scala3-bootstrapped/compile; scala3-bootstrapped/test;sjsSandbox/run;sjsSandbox/test;sjsJUnitTests/test;sjsCompilerTests/test ;sbt-test/scripted scala2-compat/* ;configureIDE ;stdlib-bootstrapped/test:run ;stdlib-bootstrapped-tasty-tests/test; scala3-compiler-bootstrapped/scala3CompilerCoursierTest:test"
+          ./project/scripts/sbt ";dist/pack; scala3-bootstrapped/compile; scala3-bootstrapped/test;sjsSandbox/run;sjsSandbox/test;sjsJUnitTests/test;sjsCompilerTests/test ;sbt-test/scripted scala2-compat/* ;configureIDE ;stdlib-bootstrapped/test:run ;stdlib-bootstrapped-tasty-tests/test; scala3-compiler-bootstrapped/scala3CompilerCoursierTest:test"
           ./project/scripts/bootstrapCmdTests
 
       - name: MiMa
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/MainGenericRunner.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/MainGenericRunner.scala
index 2e634645fddc..fbc947ce175a 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/MainGenericRunner.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/MainGenericRunner.scala
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ object MainGenericRunner {
         process(tail, newSettings.withResidualArgs(arg))
 
   def main(args: Array[String]): Unit =
-    val scalaOpts = envOrNone("SCALA_OPTS").toArray.flatMap(_.split(" "))
+    val scalaOpts = envOrNone("SCALA_OPTS").toArray.flatMap(_.split(" ")).filter(_.nonEmpty)
     val allArgs = scalaOpts ++ args
     val settings = process(allArgs.toList, Settings())
     if settings.exitCode != 0 then System.exit(settings.exitCode)
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala
index 13adb0165c77..e9f5ea07a353 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ trait AllScalaSettings extends CommonScalaSettings, PluginSettings, VerboseSetti
   )
 
   val wikiSyntax: Setting[Boolean] = BooleanSetting("-Xwiki-syntax", "Retains the Scala2 behavior of using Wiki Syntax in Scaladoc.")
+
+  val jvmargs  = PrefixSetting("-J<flag>", "-J", "Pass <flag> directly to the runtime system.")
+  val defines  = PrefixSetting("-Dproperty=value", "-D", "Pass -Dproperty=value directly to the runtime system.")
 end AllScalaSettings
 
 /** Settings shared by compiler and scaladoc */
diff --git a/compiler/test-coursier/dotty/tools/coursier/CoursierScalaTests.scala b/compiler/test-coursier/dotty/tools/coursier/CoursierScalaTests.scala
index 2e616eeea631..d8a14f72ebfa 100644
--- a/compiler/test-coursier/dotty/tools/coursier/CoursierScalaTests.scala
+++ b/compiler/test-coursier/dotty/tools/coursier/CoursierScalaTests.scala
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ class CoursierScalaTests:
       assertTrue(output.mkString("\n").endsWith("scriptPath.sc"))
     scriptPath()
 
+    def scriptEnvDashJDashD() =
+      val scriptPath = scripts("/scripting").find(_.getName == "envtest.sc").get.absPath
+      val args = scriptPath
+      val output = CoursierScalaTests.csScalaCmd("-J-Dkey=World", args)
+      assertEquals(output.mkString("\n"), "Hello World")
+    scriptEnvDashJDashD()
+
     def version() =
       val output = CoursierScalaTests.csScalaCmd("-version")
       assertTrue(output.mkString("\n").contains(sys.env("DOTTY_BOOTSTRAPPED_VERSION")))
@@ -75,6 +82,11 @@ class CoursierScalaTests:
       assertEquals(output.mkString("\n"), "Hello")
     run()
 
+    def runDashJDashD() =
+      val output = CoursierScalaTests.csScalaCmd("-J-Dkey=World", "-classpath", scripts("/run").head.getParentFile.getParent, "-run", "run.envtest")
+      assertEquals(output.mkString("\n"), "Hello World")
+    runDashJDashD()
+
     def notOnlyOptionsEqualsRun() =
       val output = CoursierScalaTests.csScalaCmd("-classpath", scripts("/run").head.getParentFile.getParent, "run.myfile")
       assertEquals(output.mkString("\n"), "Hello")
@@ -147,10 +159,12 @@ object CoursierScalaTests:
     csCmd("dotty.tools.dotc.Main", options*)
 
   private def csCmd(entry: String, options: String*): List[String] =
-    val newOptions = options match
-      case Nil => options
-      case _ => "--" +: options
-    execCmd("./cs", (s"""launch "org.scala-lang:scala3-compiler_3:${sys.env("DOTTY_BOOTSTRAPPED_VERSION")}" --main-class "$entry" --property "scala.usejavacp=true"""" +: newOptions)*)
+    val (jOpts, args) = options.partition(_.startsWith("-J"))
+    val newOptions = args match
+      case Nil => args
+      case _ => "--" +: args
+    val newJOpts = jOpts.map(s => s"--java-opt ${s.stripPrefix("-J")}").mkString(" ")
+    execCmd("./cs", (s"""launch "org.scala-lang:scala3-compiler_3:${sys.env("DOTTY_BOOTSTRAPPED_VERSION")}" $newJOpts --main-class "$entry" --property "scala.usejavacp=true"""" +: newOptions)*)
 
   /** Get coursier script */
   @BeforeClass def setup(): Unit =
diff --git a/compiler/test-coursier/run/envtest.scala b/compiler/test-coursier/run/envtest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bf416c9519ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/test-coursier/run/envtest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+package run
+
+object envtest extends App:
+  println("Hello " + sys.props("key"))
diff --git a/compiler/test-resources/scripting/classpathReport.sc b/compiler/test-resources/scripting/classpathReport.sc
index e7b2f7067a1f..2a240d2fc3a0 100755
--- a/compiler/test-resources/scripting/classpathReport.sc
+++ b/compiler/test-resources/scripting/classpathReport.sc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!dist/target/pack/bin/scala -classpath dist/target/pack/lib/*
+#!/usr/bin/env -S bin/scala -classpath 'dist/target/pack/lib/*'
 
 import java.nio.file.Paths
 
diff --git a/compiler/test-resources/scripting/envtest.sc b/compiler/test-resources/scripting/envtest.sc
new file mode 100755
index 000000000000..b2fde1b32339
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/test-resources/scripting/envtest.sc
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+def main(args: Array[String]): Unit =
+  println("Hello " + util.Properties.propOrNull("key"))
diff --git a/compiler/test-resources/scripting/envtest.scala b/compiler/test-resources/scripting/envtest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bf416c9519ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/test-resources/scripting/envtest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+package run
+
+object envtest extends App:
+  println("Hello " + sys.props("key"))
diff --git a/compiler/test-resources/scripting/unglobClasspath.sc b/compiler/test-resources/scripting/unglobClasspath.sc
index 796697cdedf2..d05ff78435b3 100755
--- a/compiler/test-resources/scripting/unglobClasspath.sc
+++ b/compiler/test-resources/scripting/unglobClasspath.sc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!bin/scala -classpath 'dist/target/pack/lib/*'
+#!/usr/bin/env -S bin/scala -classpath 'dist/target/pack/lib/*'
 
 // won't compile unless the hashbang line sets classpath
 import org.jline.terminal.Terminal
diff --git a/compiler/test/dotty/tools/scripting/BashScriptsTests.scala b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/scripting/BashScriptsTests.scala
index 061350e86e33..759430a26817 100644
--- a/compiler/test/dotty/tools/scripting/BashScriptsTests.scala
+++ b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/scripting/BashScriptsTests.scala
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import java.nio.file.{Path, Paths, Files}
 import scala.sys.process._
 
 import org.junit.Test
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
 
 import vulpix.TestConfiguration
 
@@ -28,13 +29,13 @@ class BashScriptsTests:
   printf("scalac path: [%s]\n", scalacPath)
 
   lazy val expectedOutput = List(
-    "arg  0:[a]", 
-    "arg  1:[b]", 
-    "arg  2:[c]", 
-    "arg  3:[-repl]", 
-    "arg  4:[-run]", 
-    "arg  5:[-script]", 
-    "arg  6:[-debug]", 
+    "arg  0:[a]",
+    "arg  1:[b]",
+    "arg  2:[c]",
+    "arg  3:[-repl]",
+    "arg  4:[-run]",
+    "arg  5:[-script]",
+    "arg  6:[-debug]",
   )
   lazy val testScriptArgs = Seq(
     "a", "b", "c", "-repl", "-run", "-script", "-debug"
@@ -56,6 +57,38 @@ class BashScriptsTests:
       if fail then
         assert(stdout == expectedOutput)
 
+  /* verify `dist/bin/scala` with -J setting */
+  @Test def verifyScJProperty =
+    val commandline = Seq(scalaPath, "-J-Dkey=World", testFiles.find(_.getName == "envtest.sc").get.absPath).mkString(" ")
+    val (validTest, exitCode, stdout, stderr) = bashCommand(commandline)
+    assertEquals(stdout.mkString("/n"), "Hello World")
+
+  /* verify `dist/bin/scala` with -J setting */
+  @Test def verifyScalaJProperty =
+    val commandline = Seq(scalaPath, "-J-Dkey=World3", testFiles.find(_.getName == "envtest.scala").get.absPath).mkString(" ")
+    val (validTest, exitCode, stdout, stderr) = bashCommand(commandline)
+    assertEquals(stdout.mkString("/n"), "Hello World3")
+
+  /* verify `dist/bin/scala` with -D setting */
+  @Test def verifyScDProperty =
+    val commandline = Seq(scalaPath, "-Dkey=World3", testFiles.find(_.getName == "envtest.sc").get.absPath).mkString(" ")
+    val (validTest, exitCode, stdout, stderr) = bashCommand(commandline)
+    assertEquals(stdout.mkString("/n"), "Hello World3")
+
+  /* verify `dist/bin/scala` with -D setting */
+  @Test def verifyScalaDProperty =
+    val commandline = Seq(scalaPath, "-Dkey=World4", testFiles.find(_.getName == "envtest.scala").get.absPath).mkString(" ")
+    val (validTest, exitCode, stdout, stderr) = bashCommand(commandline)
+    assertEquals(stdout.mkString("/n"), "Hello World4")
+
+  /* verify `dist/bin/scala` with -D setting */
+  @Test def saveAndRunWithDProperty =
+    val commandline = Seq(scalaPath, "-save", testFiles.find(_.getName == "envtest.scala").get.absPath).mkString(" ")
+    val (_, _, _, _) = bashCommand(commandline)
+    val commandline2 = Seq(scalaPath, "-Dkey=World5", testFiles.find(_.getName == "envtest.jar").get.absPath).mkString(" ")
+    val (validTest, exitCode, stdout, stderr) = bashCommand(commandline2)
+    assertEquals(stdout.mkString("/n"), "Hello World5")
+
   /* verify `dist/bin/scala` non-interference with command line args following script name */
   @Test def verifyScalaArgs =
     val commandline = (Seq("SCALA_OPTS= ", scalaPath, showArgsScript) ++ testScriptArgs).mkString(" ")
@@ -73,7 +106,7 @@ class BashScriptsTests:
         assert(stdout == expectedOutput)
 
   /*
-   * verify that scriptPath.sc sees a valid script.path property, 
+   * verify that scriptPath.sc sees a valid script.path property,
    * and that it's value is the path to "scriptPath.sc".
    */
   @Test def verifyScriptPathProperty =
@@ -134,6 +167,7 @@ class BashScriptsTests:
     def exists: Boolean = s.toPath.toFile.exists
     def name: String = s.toFile.getName
     def dropExtension: String = s.reverse.dropWhile(_ != '.').drop(1).reverse
+    def parent(up: Int): String = s.norm.split("/").reverse.drop(up).reverse.mkString("/")
   }
 
   extension(p: Path) {
@@ -168,7 +202,7 @@ class BashScriptsTests:
     if scalacPath.isFile then scalacPath.replaceAll("/bin/scalac", "")
     else envOrElse("SCALA_HOME", "").norm
 
-  lazy val javaHome = envOrElse("JAVA_HOME", "").norm
+  lazy val javaHome = whichJava.parent(2)
 
   lazy val testEnvPairs = List(
     ("JAVA_HOME", javaHome),
@@ -176,14 +210,12 @@ class BashScriptsTests:
     ("PATH", adjustedPath),
   ).filter { case (name, valu) => valu.nonEmpty }
 
-  lazy val whichBash: String =
-    var whichBash = ""
-    if osname.startsWith("windows") then
-      whichBash = which("bash.exe")
-    else
-      whichBash = which("bash")
+  lazy val whichBash: String = whichExe("bash")
+  lazy val whichJava: String = whichExe("java")
 
-    whichBash
+  def whichExe(basename: String): String = 
+    val exeName = if (osname.toLowerCase.startsWith("windows")) s"$basename.exe" else basename
+    which(exeName)
 
   def bashCommand(cmdstr: String, additionalEnvPairs: List[(String, String)] = Nil): (Boolean, Int, Seq[String], Seq[String]) = {
     var (stdout, stderr) = (List.empty[String], List.empty[String])
@@ -192,7 +224,7 @@ class BashScriptsTests:
       val envPairs = testEnvPairs ++ additionalEnvPairs
       val proc = Process(cmd, None, envPairs *)
       val exitVal = proc ! ProcessLogger (
-        (out: String) => stdout ::= out, 
+        (out: String) => stdout ::= out,
         (err: String) => stderr ::= err
       )
       val validTest = exitVal == 0 && ! stderr.exists(_.contains("Permission denied"))
diff --git a/compiler/test/dotty/tools/scripting/ClasspathTests.scala b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/scripting/ClasspathTests.scala
index 82b6affe0c02..d755789543a3 100755
--- a/compiler/test/dotty/tools/scripting/ClasspathTests.scala
+++ b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/scripting/ClasspathTests.scala
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class ClasspathTests:
 
       cmd.foreach { printf("[%s]\n", _) }
 
-      // test script reports the classpath it sees 
+      // test script reports the classpath it sees
       val scriptOutput = exec(cmd:_*)
       val scriptCwd = findTaggedLine("cwd", scriptOutput)
       printf("script ran in directory [%s]\n", scriptCwd)
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class ClasspathTests:
 
       val hashbangClasspathJars = scriptCp.split(psep).map { _.getName }.sorted.distinct
       val packlibJars = listJars(s"$scriptCwd/$packLibDir").sorted.distinct
-     
+
       printf("%d jar files in dist/target/pack/lib\n", packlibJars.size)
       printf("%d test script jars in classpath\n", hashbangClasspathJars.size)
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class ClasspathTests:
 
       cmd.foreach { printf("[%s]\n", _) }
 
-      // test script reports the classpath it sees 
+      // test script reports the classpath it sees
       val scriptOutput = exec(cmd:_*)
       val scriptCp = findTaggedLine("unglobbed classpath", scriptOutput)
       val classpathJars = scriptCp.split(psep).map { _.getName }.sorted.distinct
diff --git a/dist/bin/scala b/dist/bin/scala
index 5ae7761b69c5..8a87d6d0d8a0 100755
--- a/dist/bin/scala
+++ b/dist/bin/scala
@@ -28,10 +28,34 @@ fi
 
 source "$PROG_HOME/bin/common"
 
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+  case "$1" in
+    -D*)
+      # pass to scala as well: otherwise we lose it sometimes when we
+      # need it, e.g. communicating with a server compiler.
+      addJava "$1"
+      addScala "$1"
+      # respect user-supplied -Dscala.usejavacp
+      shift
+      ;;
+    -J*)
+      # as with -D, pass to scala even though it will almost
+      # never be used.
+      addJava "${1:2}"
+      addScala "$1"
+      shift
+      ;;
+    *)
+      addScala "$1"
+      shift
+      ;;
+  esac
+done
+
 # exec here would prevent onExit from being called, leaving terminal in unusable state
 compilerJavaClasspathArgs
 [ -z "${ConEmuPID-}" -o -n "${cygwin-}" ] && export MSYSTEM= PWD= # workaround for #12405
-eval "\"$JAVACMD\"" "-Dscala.home=$PROG_HOME" "-classpath \"$jvm_cp_args\"" "dotty.tools.MainGenericRunner" "-classpath \"$jvm_cp_args\"" "$@"
+eval "\"$JAVACMD\"" "${java_args[@]}" "-Dscala.home=$PROG_HOME" "-classpath \"$jvm_cp_args\"" "dotty.tools.MainGenericRunner" "-classpath \"$jvm_cp_args\"" "${scala_args[@]}"
 scala_exit_status=$?