diff --git a/pmd-dist/src/main/scripts/designer.bat b/pmd-dist/src/main/scripts/designer.bat
index c1d6675d72..d4b5d60b90 100644
--- a/pmd-dist/src/main/scripts/designer.bat
+++ b/pmd-dist/src/main/scripts/designer.bat
@@ -3,4 +3,16 @@ set TOPDIR=%~dp0..
 set OPTS=
 set MAIN_CLASS=net.sourceforge.pmd.util.fxdesigner.Designer
 
-java -classpath "%TOPDIR%\lib\*" %OPTS% %MAIN_CLASS% %*
+
+:: sets the jver variable to the java version, eg 901 for 9.0.1+x or 180 for 1.8.0_171-b11
+for /f tokens^=2-4^ delims^=.-_+^" %%j in ('java -fullversion 2^>^&1') do set /A jver="%%j%%k%%l"
+
+if "%jver%" GEQ "900" (
+    :: enable reflection    
+    Set jreopts=--add-opens javafx.controls/javafx.scene.control.skin=ALL-UNNAMED
+) else (
+    Set jreopts=
+)
+
+
+java %jreopts% -classpath "%TOPDIR%\lib\*" %OPTS% %MAIN_CLASS% %*