diff --git a/lib/cucumber/cli/options.rb b/lib/cucumber/cli/options.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/cucumber/cli/options.rb
+++ b/lib/cucumber/cli/options.rb
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ module Cucumber
             "This option can be specified multiple times.") do |v|
             @options[:require] << v
             if(Cucumber::JRUBY && File.directory?(v))
+              require 'java'
               $CLASSPATH << v
             end
           end
Must require 'java' before using $CLASSPATH in JRuby <I>. [#<I> state:resolved]