diff --git a/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.workbench/eclipseui/org/eclipse/ui/internal/Workbench.java b/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.workbench/eclipseui/org/eclipse/ui/internal/Workbench.java
index af01dacada6..72f00f17625 100644
--- a/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.workbench/eclipseui/org/eclipse/ui/internal/Workbench.java
+++ b/bundles/org.eclipse.ui.workbench/eclipseui/org/eclipse/ui/internal/Workbench.java
@@ -747,9 +747,8 @@ static Object getApplication(@SuppressWarnings("unused") String[] args) {
 	 * @return the display
 	 */
 	public static Display createDisplay() {
-		// setup the application name used by SWT to lookup resources on some
-		// platforms
-		String applicationName = WorkbenchPlugin.getDefault().getAppName();
+		// setup the application name used by SWT to lookup resources on some platforms
+		String applicationName = System.getProperty("eclipse.appName", WorkbenchPlugin.getDefault().getAppName()); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		if (applicationName != null) {
 			Display.setAppName(applicationName);
 		}