diff --git a/spring-cloud-release-tools-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/release/internal/ReleaserProperties.java b/spring-cloud-release-tools-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/release/internal/ReleaserProperties.java
index 18e5dc8a..6a10565f 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-release-tools-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/release/internal/ReleaserProperties.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-release-tools-core/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/release/internal/ReleaserProperties.java
@@ -291,12 +291,12 @@ public class ReleaserProperties {
 		/**
 		 * Command to be executed to build the project
 		 */
-		private String buildCommand = "./mvnw clean install -B -Pdocs";
+		private String buildCommand = "./mvnw clean install -B -Pdocs {{systemProps}}";
 
 		/**
 		 * Command to be executed to deploy a built project
 		 */
-		private String deployCommand = "./mvnw deploy -DskipTests -B -Pfast,deploy";
+		private String deployCommand = "./mvnw deploy -DskipTests -B -Pfast,deploy {{systemProps}}";
 
 		/**
 		 * Command to be executed to publish documentation. If present "{{version}}" will be replaced by the
diff --git a/spring-cloud-release-tools-spring/src/test/java/org/springframework/cloud/release/internal/spring/ReleaserPropertiesUpdaterTests.java b/spring-cloud-release-tools-spring/src/test/java/org/springframework/cloud/release/internal/spring/ReleaserPropertiesUpdaterTests.java
index 9cfc2a73..dd377023 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-release-tools-spring/src/test/java/org/springframework/cloud/release/internal/spring/ReleaserPropertiesUpdaterTests.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-release-tools-spring/src/test/java/org/springframework/cloud/release/internal/spring/ReleaserPropertiesUpdaterTests.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.springframework.cloud.release.internal.spring;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.net.URISyntaxException;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 
@@ -17,16 +18,31 @@ import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext;
 public class ReleaserPropertiesUpdaterTests {
 
 	ApplicationContext context = BDDMockito.mock(ApplicationContext.class);
+	File relaserUpdater;
+
+	public ReleaserPropertiesUpdaterTests() throws URISyntaxException {
+		this.relaserUpdater = new File(ReleaserPropertiesUpdaterTests.class
+				.getResource("/projects/releaser-updater/").toURI());
+	}
 
 	@Test public void should_update_properties() {
+		ReleaserProperties original = originalReleaserProperties();
 		Aware aware = new Aware();
 		BDDMockito.given(this.context.getBeansOfType(BDDMockito.any(Class.class)))
 				.willReturn(beansOfType(aware));
 		ReleaserPropertiesUpdater updater = new ReleaserPropertiesUpdater(this.context);
 
-		updater.updateProperties(new ReleaserProperties(), new File("."));
+		ReleaserProperties props = updater
+				.updateProperties(original, this.relaserUpdater);
 
 		BDDAssertions.then(aware.properties).isNotNull();
+		BDDAssertions.then(props.getMaven().getSystemProperties()).isEqualTo("-Dfoo=bar");
+	}
+
+	ReleaserProperties originalReleaserProperties() {
+		ReleaserProperties props = new ReleaserProperties();
+		props.getMaven().setSystemProperties("-Dfoo=bar");
+		return props;
 	}
 
 	private Map<String, Object> beansOfType(Aware aware) {
diff --git a/spring-cloud-release-tools-spring/src/test/resources/projects/releaser-updater/config/releaser.yml b/spring-cloud-release-tools-spring/src/test/resources/projects/releaser-updater/config/releaser.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d9c27b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-cloud-release-tools-spring/src/test/resources/projects/releaser-updater/config/releaser.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+releaser.maven.buildCommand: ./scripts/noIntegration.sh
+releaser.gradle.gradlePropsSubstitution:
+  verifierVersion: spring-cloud-contract
+  bootVersion: spring-boot
\ No newline at end of file