diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 948e1f164a..39fa4b7d4f 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ if (System.env.JAVA_HOME) {
 else {
 	project.ext.JAVA_HOME = "${System.properties.'java.home'}/../"
 }
+
+/***************************************************************************************
+ * Make sure Gradle wasn't launched with a 32-bit Java...it can cause confusing errors
+ ***************************************************************************************/
+if ("32".equals(System.getProperty("sun.arch.data.model"))) {
+	throw new GradleException("\n\n\t32-bit Java detected!  Please use 64-bit Java.\n\n");
+}
+
 /*********************************************************************************
  *  Define the location of bin repo
  *********************************************************************************/