--- a/derby/src/org/netbeans/modules/derby/RegisterDerby.java	
+++ a/derby/src/org/netbeans/modules/derby/RegisterDerby.java	
@@ -52,22 +52,28 @@ 
 import java.util.Properties;
 import java.util.logging.Level;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
+import java.util.prefs.Preferences;
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+import javax.swing.Icon;
 import org.netbeans.api.db.explorer.ConnectionManager;
 import org.netbeans.api.db.explorer.DatabaseConnection;
 import org.netbeans.api.db.explorer.JDBCDriver;
 import org.netbeans.api.db.explorer.JDBCDriverManager;
 import org.netbeans.api.progress.ProgressHandle;
 import org.netbeans.api.progress.ProgressHandleFactory;
-import org.netbeans.api.progress.ProgressUtils;
 import org.netbeans.modules.derby.api.DerbyDatabases;
 import org.netbeans.spi.db.explorer.DatabaseRuntime;
 import org.openide.DialogDisplayer;
 import org.openide.NotifyDescriptor;
+import org.openide.awt.NotificationDisplayer;
 import org.openide.execution.NbProcessDescriptor;
 import org.openide.filesystems.FileObject;
 import org.openide.filesystems.FileUtil;
 import org.openide.util.Cancellable;
+import org.openide.util.ImageUtilities;
 import org.openide.util.NbBundle;
+import org.openide.util.NbPreferences;
 import org.openide.util.RequestProcessor;
 import org.openide.util.Utilities;
 import org.openide.windows.InputOutput;
@@ -86,6 +92,10 @@ 
     
     private static final Logger LOGGER = Logger.getLogger(RegisterDerby.class.getName());
     private static final boolean LOG = LOGGER.isLoggable(Level.FINE);
+    private static final Pattern JAVA_VERSION_PATTERN = Pattern.compile(
+            "(\\d+)\\.(\\d+)\\.\\d+(?:(?:-.*)|(?:_(\\d+)))?");          //NOI18N
+    private static final String DISABLED_SECURITY_MNGR_NOTIFIED
+            = "disabledSecurityManagerNotified";                        //NOI18N
     
     private static final int START_TIMEOUT = 0; // seconds
     
@@ -299,7 +309,7 @@ 
               java,
               "-Dderby.system.home=\"" + getDerbySystemHome() + "\" " +
               "-classpath \"" + getNetworkServerClasspath() + "\"" + 
-              " org.apache.derby.drda.NetworkServerControl start"
+              " org.apache.derby.drda.NetworkServerControl start" + jdkParams()
             );
             if (LOG) {
                 LOGGER.log(Level.FINE, "Running " + desc.getProcessName() + " " + desc.getArguments());
@@ -332,6 +342,78 @@ 
         }
     }
     
+    /**
+     * Check whether some non-standard arguments are needed to start JavaDB. If
+     * so, a warning notification may be displayed to the user. Ugly workaround
+     * for bug 239962.
+     *
+     * @return String containing non-standard JDK params. Prefixed by a space
+     * character if not emtpy.
+     */
+    @NbBundle.Messages({
+        "TTL_NoSecurity=JavaDB - Security Manager Disabled",
+        "LBL_NoSecurity=JavaDB will be started with disabled security manager"
+                + " (i.e. with argument -noSecurityManager). Please ensure"
+                + " this cannot cause any security risks, and if so, start the"
+                + " JavaDB manually."
+    })
+    private String jdkParams() {
+
+        if (isDisablingOfSecurityManagerNeeded()) {
+            Preferences prefs = NbPreferences.forModule(RegisterDerby.class);
+            if (!prefs.getBoolean(DISABLED_SECURITY_MNGR_NOTIFIED, false)) {
+                NotificationDisplayer.getDefault().notify(
+                        Bundle.TTL_NoSecurity(),
+                        getDbIcon(), Bundle.LBL_NoSecurity(), null,
+                        NotificationDisplayer.Priority.HIGH);
+                prefs.putBoolean(DISABLED_SECURITY_MNGR_NOTIFIED, true);
+            }
+            return " -noSecurityManager";                               //NOI18N
+        } else {
+            return "";                                                  //NOI18N
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Icon getDbIcon() {
+        return ImageUtilities.loadImageIcon(
+                "org/netbeans/modules/derby/resources/database.gif", //NOI18N
+                false);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * JavaDB needs to be started with parameter "-noSecurityManager" on jdk
+     * 7u51 or newer or jdk8.
+     */
+    private boolean isDisablingOfSecurityManagerNeeded() {
+        // 1.8.0-ea+
+        // 1.7.0_51+
+        String version = System.getProperty("java.version");            //NOI18N
+        Matcher m = JAVA_VERSION_PATTERN.matcher(version);
+        try {
+            if (m.matches()) {
+                int major = Integer.parseInt(m.group(1));
+                int minor = Integer.parseInt(m.group(2));
+                if (major == 1 && minor >= 8) {
+                    return true;
+                }
+                String updateStr = m.group(3);
+                if (updateStr != null && !updateStr.isEmpty()) {
+                    int update = Integer.parseInt(updateStr);
+                    if (major == 1 && minor == 7 && update >= 51) {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                }
+            } else {
+                LOGGER.log(Level.FINE, "Cannot parse java version {0}", //NOI18N
+                        version);
+            }
+        } catch (NumberFormatException ex) {
+            LOGGER.log(Level.FINE, null, ex);
+            return false;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     private boolean waitStart(final ExecSupport execSupport, int waitTime) {
         boolean started = false;
         String waitMessage = NbBundle.getMessage(RegisterDerby.class, "MSG_StartingDerby");