diff --git a/crates/ide-host/src/ops/analysis.rs b/crates/ide-host/src/ops/analysis.rs
index e40a4edf1..18e2825c3 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/src/ops/analysis.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/src/ops/analysis.rs
@@ -134,21 +134,22 @@ pub async fn inspect_code(
     let cancel = host.begin_request(request);
     let listed = {
         let (project, cancel) = (project.clone(), cancel.clone());
-        blocking(move || files_in_scope(&project, &scope, &cancel)).await
+        blocking(move || {
+            let files = files_in_scope(&project, &scope, &cancel)?;
+            let total = files.len() as u32;
+            let rel: std::collections::HashMap<_, _> =
+                files.into_iter().filter(|f| project.lsp.serves_path(&f.path)).map(|f| (f.path, f.rel_path)).collect();
+            Ok((total, rel))
+        })
+        .await
     };
-    let files = match listed {
+    let (total_in_scope, rel) = match listed {
         Ok(files) => files,
         Err(e) => {
             host.end_request(request);
             return Err(e);
         }
     };
-    let total_in_scope = files.len() as u32;
-    let rel: std::collections::HashMap<_, _> = files
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|f| project.lsp.serves_path(&f.path))
-        .map(|f| (f.path.clone(), f.rel_path.clone()))
-        .collect();
     let mut summary = InspectSummary { skipped: total_in_scope - rel.len() as u32, ..Default::default() };
     let _ = on_event.send(InspectEvent::Started { total: rel.len() as u32 });
 
diff --git a/crates/ide-sdk/src/apply.rs b/crates/ide-sdk/src/apply.rs
index ebc12bb16..7ad8e2009 100644
--- a/crates/ide-sdk/src/apply.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-sdk/src/apply.rs
@@ -170,7 +170,10 @@ pub fn jdtls_jdk(root: &Path, s: &Settings) -> Result<Option<crate::java::Jdk>,
         Some(Ok(jdk)) if !ide_core::java_runtime::supports_java_bundles(&jdk.home) => {
             Err(crate::java::server_jdk_incomplete_message(&jdk, jdk.major.max(crate::java::JDTLS_MIN_JAVA)))
         }
-        Some(Ok(jdk)) => Ok(Some(jdk)),
+        Some(Ok(jdk)) => match crate::java::java_execution_error(&crate::java::java_executable(&jdk.home)) {
+            Some(error) => Err(error),
+            None => Ok(Some(jdk)),
+        },
         Some(Err(p)) => {
             Err(format!("The language server JDK {} (Settings › Languages & Frameworks › Java).", not_a_jdk(&p)))
         }
diff --git a/crates/ide-sdk/src/java.rs b/crates/ide-sdk/src/java.rs
index afecff128..302558652 100644
--- a/crates/ide-sdk/src/java.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-sdk/src/java.rs
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ pub fn parse_release(release: &str) -> Option<u32> {
     if first == 1 { parts.next()?.parse().ok() } else { Some(first) }
 }
 
-/// The JDK at `home`, if it is one (a `release` file and `bin/java`).
+/// The JDK at `home` (or a macOS bundle), if it has a `release` file and `bin/java`.
 pub fn jdk_at(home: &Path) -> Option<Jdk> {
+    let bundle_home = home.join("Contents/Home");
+    let home = if bundle_home.is_dir() { bundle_home.as_path() } else { home };
     let release = std::fs::read_to_string(home.join("release")).ok()?;
     if !home.join("bin").join(crate::exe("java")).is_file() {
         return None;
@@ -41,6 +43,69 @@ pub fn jdk_at(home: &Path) -> Option<Jdk> {
     Some(Jdk { major: parse_release(&release)?, home: crate::launch_path(home).unwrap_or_else(|_| home.to_path_buf()) })
 }
 
+struct JavaProbe {
+    modified: std::time::SystemTime,
+    len: u64,
+    permissions: std::fs::Permissions,
+    at: Instant,
+    runnable: bool,
+}
+
+static JAVA_PROBES: Mutex<BTreeMap<PathBuf, JavaProbe>> = Mutex::new(BTreeMap::new());
+
+/// Metadata can describe a JDK built for another architecture. Probe the executable
+/// before giving it to JDT, with a short cache shared by server and project selection.
+pub(crate) fn java_runs(java: &Path) -> bool {
+    let Ok(metadata) = java.metadata() else { return false };
+    let Ok(modified) = metadata.modified() else { return false };
+    {
+        let probes = JAVA_PROBES.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+        if let Some(probe) = probes.get(java)
+            && probe.modified == modified
+            && probe.len == metadata.len()
+            && probe.permissions == metadata.permissions()
+            && probe.at.elapsed() < RESCAN_AFTER
+        {
+            return probe.runnable;
+        }
+    }
+    let runnable = crate::exec::query(java, &["-version"], Duration::from_secs(5)).is_some();
+    JAVA_PROBES.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()).insert(
+        java.to_path_buf(),
+        JavaProbe { modified, len: metadata.len(), permissions: metadata.permissions(), at: Instant::now(), runnable },
+    );
+    runnable
+}
+
+fn project_jdk_is_usable(jdk: &Jdk) -> bool {
+    jdk.home.join("bin").join(crate::exe("javac")).is_file()
+        && (jdk.major < 9 || ide_core::java_runtime::supports_java_bundles(&jdk.home))
+        && java_runs(&java_executable(&jdk.home))
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn server_jdk_error(jdk: &Jdk, min_java: u32) -> Option<String> {
+    server_jdk_metadata_error(jdk, min_java).or_else(|| java_execution_error(&java_executable(&jdk.home)))
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn server_jdk_metadata_error(jdk: &Jdk, min_java: u32) -> Option<String> {
+    if jdk.major < min_java {
+        Some(server_jdk_too_old_message(jdk, min_java))
+    } else if !ide_core::java_runtime::supports_java_bundles(&jdk.home) {
+        Some(server_jdk_incomplete_message(jdk, min_java))
+    } else {
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn java_execution_error(java: &Path) -> Option<String> {
+    (!java_runs(java)).then(|| {
+        format!(
+            "The language server Java executable ({}) cannot run on this machine. Choose a working JDK in {SERVER_JDK_SETTING}, or set it to Auto.",
+            java.display()
+        )
+    })
+}
+
 fn children(dir: &Path) -> Vec<PathBuf> {
     let mut out: Vec<PathBuf> =
         std::fs::read_dir(dir).map(|rd| rd.flatten().map(|e| e.path()).collect()).unwrap_or_default();
@@ -166,11 +231,14 @@ pub fn installed_jdks() -> Arc<[Jdk]> {
 /// the list is rescanned (at most every [`RESCAN_AFTER`]), so a JDK installed
 /// after startup is picked up when the server is restarted.
 pub fn jdtls_jdks(min_java: u32, data_dir: &Path) -> Arc<[Jdk]> {
-    let mut slot = JDKS.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
-    let installed = match &*slot {
-        Some(s) if jdtls_runtime(&s.jdks, min_java).is_some() || s.at.elapsed() < RESCAN_AFTER => s.jdks.clone(),
-        _ => rescan(&mut slot),
+    let (installed, expired) = {
+        let mut slot = JDKS.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+        match &*slot {
+            Some(s) => (s.jdks.clone(), s.at.elapsed() >= RESCAN_AFTER),
+            None => (rescan(&mut slot), false),
+        }
     };
+    let installed = if expired && jdtls_runtime(&installed, min_java).is_none() { rescan_jdks() } else { installed };
     runtime_candidates(&installed, data_dir).into()
 }
 
@@ -203,7 +271,7 @@ pub const JDTLS_MIN_JAVA: u32 = 21;
 
 /// The JDK to run jdtls with: the first found that is new enough (`JAVA_HOME` wins).
 pub fn jdtls_runtime(jdks: &[Jdk], min_java: u32) -> Option<&Jdk> {
-    jdks.iter().find(|j| j.major >= min_java && ide_core::java_runtime::supports_java_bundles(&j.home))
+    jdks.iter().find(|j| server_jdk_error(j, min_java).is_none())
 }
 
 /// The Java version the jdtls that `cfg` launches needs: the highest any of its
@@ -290,7 +358,7 @@ fn manifest_min_java(manifest: &str) -> Option<u32> {
 /// jdtls itself runs on.
 pub fn runtimes(jdks: &[Jdk]) -> Vec<serde_json::Value> {
     let mut by_major: BTreeMap<u32, &Jdk> = BTreeMap::new();
-    for j in jdks {
+    for j in jdks.iter().filter(|jdk| project_jdk_is_usable(jdk)) {
         by_major.entry(j.major).or_insert(j);
     }
     by_major
@@ -372,7 +440,8 @@ pub fn configure_jdtls(
     // A Lombok agent from the user's JVM arguments wins.
     let own_agent = crate::lombok::agent_in_args(cfg.args.iter().map(String::as_str));
     let agent = own_agent.as_deref().or(lombok);
-    if !cfg.args.iter().any(|a| a == "-data") {
+    let generated_workspace = !cfg.args.iter().any(|a| a == "-data");
+    if generated_workspace {
         // ECJ builds incrementally: classes compiled without (or with another) Lombok
         // agent would be kept, so each agent gets its own workspace and a full build.
         let mut key = match agent {
@@ -414,12 +483,22 @@ pub fn configure_jdtls(
     set_jvm_property(&mut cfg.args, ZIP64_LENIENCY);
     let managed = language_server_runtimes_dir(data_dir);
     let managed = dunce::canonicalize(&managed).unwrap_or(managed);
+    let mut excluded_jdks = Vec::new();
     let project_jdks: Vec<_> = project_jdk
         .into_iter()
         .chain(jdks)
         .filter(|jdk| !jdk.home.starts_with(&managed) || project_jdk == Some(*jdk))
+        .filter(|jdk| {
+            if project_jdk_is_usable(jdk) {
+                true
+            } else {
+                excluded_jdks.push(jdk.home.clone());
+                false
+            }
+        })
         .cloned()
         .collect();
+    let project_jdk = project_jdk.filter(|jdk| project_jdks.contains(jdk));
     let mut all: Vec<Jdk> = Vec::new();
     for j in project_jdk.into_iter().chain(jdks).chain(server_jdk) {
         if !all.contains(j) {
@@ -427,13 +506,9 @@ pub fn configure_jdtls(
         }
     }
     let jdks = all.as_slice();
-    if !cfg.env.contains_key("JAVA_HOME") {
+    if cfg.launch_error.is_none() && !cfg.env.contains_key("JAVA_HOME") {
         let runtime = match server_jdk {
-            Some(jdk) if jdk.major < min_java => Err(server_jdk_too_old_message(jdk, min_java)),
-            Some(jdk) if !ide_core::java_runtime::supports_java_bundles(&jdk.home) => {
-                Err(server_jdk_incomplete_message(jdk, min_java))
-            }
-            Some(jdk) => Ok(jdk),
+            Some(jdk) => server_jdk_error(jdk, min_java).map_or(Ok(jdk), Err),
             None => jdtls_runtime(jdks, min_java).ok_or_else(|| missing_runtime_message(jdks, min_java)),
         };
         match runtime {
@@ -442,10 +517,10 @@ pub fn configure_jdtls(
             }
             Err(e) => cfg.launch_error = Some(e),
         }
-    } else if let Some(jdk) = cfg.env.get("JAVA_HOME").and_then(|home| jdk_at(Path::new(home)))
-        && !ide_core::java_runtime::supports_java_bundles(&jdk.home)
+    } else if cfg.launch_error.is_none()
+        && let Some(jdk) = cfg.env.get("JAVA_HOME").and_then(|home| jdk_at(Path::new(home)))
     {
-        cfg.launch_error = Some(server_jdk_incomplete_message(&jdk, min_java));
+        cfg.launch_error = server_jdk_error(&jdk, min_java);
     }
     let mut runtimes = runtimes(&project_jdks);
     if let Some(project) = project_jdk.or_else(|| pick_jdk(&project_jdks, project_java_version(server_root))) {
@@ -457,6 +532,14 @@ pub fn configure_jdtls(
             }
         }
     }
+    if generated_workspace && !excluded_jdks.is_empty() {
+        // JDT retains VM installs in its workspace even after they leave the runtime list.
+        excluded_jdks.sort();
+        excluded_jdks.dedup();
+        let key = text_key(&json!(excluded_jdks).to_string());
+        let data = cfg.args.iter().position(|a| a == "-data").unwrap() + 1;
+        cfg.args[data].push_str(&format!("-runtimes-{key}"));
+    }
     if !runtimes.is_empty() {
         merge_init_options(cfg, json!({ "settings": { "java": { "configuration": { "runtimes": runtimes } } } }));
     }
@@ -587,6 +670,37 @@ fn parse_java_version(v: &str) -> Option<u32> {
     if first == 1 { parts.next()?.trim().parse().ok() } else { Some(first) }
 }
 
+#[cfg(test)]
+pub(crate) fn write_test_java(home: &Path) {
+    let java = java_executable(home);
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    {
+        use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+        std::fs::write(&java, "#!/bin/sh\necho 'openjdk version 25'\n").unwrap();
+        std::fs::set_permissions(java, std::fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o755)).unwrap();
+    }
+    #[cfg(windows)]
+    {
+        static BINARY: std::sync::OnceLock<tempfile::TempDir> = std::sync::OnceLock::new();
+        let dir = BINARY.get_or_init(|| {
+            let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+            let source = dir.path().join("java.rs");
+            std::fs::write(&source, "fn main() {}\n").unwrap();
+            assert!(
+                std::process::Command::new("rustc")
+                    .arg(source)
+                    .arg("-o")
+                    .arg(dir.path().join("java.exe"))
+                    .status()
+                    .unwrap()
+                    .success()
+            );
+            dir
+        });
+        std::fs::copy(dir.path().join("java.exe"), java).unwrap();
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -599,7 +713,7 @@ mod tests {
             format!("JAVA_VERSION=\"{major}\"\nMODULES=\"java.base jdk.compiler jdk.jdi jdk.unsupported\"\n"),
         )
         .unwrap();
-        std::fs::write(java_executable(&home), "").unwrap();
+        write_test_java(&home);
         std::fs::write(home.join("bin").join(crate::exe("javac")), "").unwrap();
         Jdk { major, home }
     }
@@ -635,7 +749,7 @@ mod tests {
             "JAVA_VERSION=\"21.0.1\"\nMODULES=\"java.base jdk.compiler jdk.jdi jdk.unsupported\"\n",
         )
         .unwrap();
-        std::fs::write(java_executable(&project_home), "").unwrap();
+        write_test_java(&project_home);
         std::fs::write(project_home.join("bin").join(crate::exe("javac")), "").unwrap();
         let project = jdk_at(&project_home).unwrap();
         let discover = || jdk_homes(&project_root).filter_map(|home| jdk_at(&home)).collect::<Vec<_>>();
@@ -649,7 +763,7 @@ mod tests {
             "JAVA_VERSION=\"25.0.1\"\nMODULES=\"java.base jdk.compiler jdk.jdi jdk.unsupported\"\n",
         )
         .unwrap();
-        std::fs::write(java_executable(&home), "").unwrap();
+        write_test_java(&home);
         std::fs::write(home.join("bin").join(crate::exe("javac")), "").unwrap();
         let candidates = runtime_candidates(&installed, data.path());
         assert_eq!(jdtls_runtime(&candidates, 25).unwrap().major, 25);
@@ -730,6 +844,131 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(parse_release("OTHER=1"), None);
     }
 
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[test]
+    fn issue_1668_unrunnable_jdk_does_not_hide_valid_runtimes() {
+        use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let broken = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 8, "jdk1.8.0_202.jdk/Contents/Home");
+        std::fs::write(broken.home.join("release"), "JAVA_VERSION=\"1.8.0_202\"\n").unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(java_executable(&broken.home), "#!/bin/sh\nexit 126\n").unwrap();
+        std::fs::set_permissions(java_executable(&broken.home), std::fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o755)).unwrap();
+        let working = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 8, "working8");
+        std::fs::write(working.home.join("release"), "JAVA_VERSION=\"1.8.0_372\"\n").unwrap();
+        let server = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 25, "jdk25");
+        let installed = [broken.clone(), working.clone(), server.clone()];
+        for project in [None, Some(&broken)] {
+            for explicit in [None, Some(&server)] {
+                let mut cfg: LanguageServerConfig = toml::from_str("name = 'jdtls'\ncommand = 'jdtls'").unwrap();
+                configure_jdtls(&mut cfg, tmp.path(), tmp.path(), &installed, project, explicit, 25, &[], None);
+                assert_eq!(cfg.launch_error, None);
+                assert_eq!(cfg.env["JAVA_HOME"], server.home.to_string_lossy());
+                let options = serde_json::to_value(cfg.initialization_options.unwrap()).unwrap();
+                let runtimes = options["settings"]["java"]["configuration"]["runtimes"].as_array().unwrap();
+                assert_eq!(runtimes[0]["path"], json!(working.home));
+                assert!(!runtimes.iter().any(|r| r["path"] == json!(broken.home)));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[test]
+    fn unusable_server_jdks_are_skipped_or_reported_without_losing_the_selected_path() {
+        use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let server = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 25, "good25");
+        for failure in ["exit126", "not-executable", "missing-javac", "jre", "timeout"] {
+            let bad = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 25, failure);
+            let java = java_executable(&bad.home);
+            match failure {
+                "exit126" => std::fs::write(&java, "#!/bin/sh\nexit 126\n").unwrap(),
+                "not-executable" => std::fs::set_permissions(&java, std::fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o644)).unwrap(),
+                "missing-javac" => std::fs::remove_file(bad.home.join("bin/javac")).unwrap(),
+                "jre" => std::fs::write(bad.home.join("release"), "JAVA_VERSION=\"25\"\nIMAGE_TYPE=\"JRE\"\n").unwrap(),
+                "timeout" => std::fs::write(&java, "#!/bin/sh\nexec /bin/sleep 10\n").unwrap(),
+                _ => unreachable!(),
+            }
+            let installed = [bad.clone(), server.clone()];
+            assert_eq!(jdtls_runtime(&installed, 25), Some(&server), "{failure}");
+            assert_eq!(runtimes(&installed)[0]["path"], json!(server.home), "{failure}");
+            for env_override in [false, true] {
+                let mut cfg: LanguageServerConfig = toml::from_str("name = 'jdtls'\ncommand = 'jdtls'").unwrap();
+                if env_override {
+                    cfg.env.insert("JAVA_HOME".into(), bad.home.to_string_lossy().into_owned());
+                }
+                configure_jdtls(&mut cfg, tmp.path(), tmp.path(), &installed, None, Some(&bad), 25, &[], None);
+                let error = cfg.launch_error.unwrap();
+                assert!(error.contains(bad.home.to_string_lossy().as_ref()), "{error}");
+                assert!(!error.contains(server.home.to_string_lossy().as_ref()), "{error}");
+            }
+            write_test_java(&bad.home);
+            if matches!(failure, "exit126" | "not-executable" | "timeout") {
+                assert!(java_runs(&java), "a replaced or repaired executable is probed again");
+            }
+        }
+        let mut cfg: LanguageServerConfig = toml::from_str("name = 'jdtls'\ncommand = 'jdtls'").unwrap();
+        cfg.launch_error = Some("invalid selected JDK /outside/scan".into());
+        configure_jdtls(&mut cfg, tmp.path(), tmp.path(), &[], None, None, 25, &[], None);
+        assert_eq!(cfg.launch_error.as_deref(), Some("invalid selected JDK /outside/scan"));
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[test]
+    fn slow_java_probe_does_not_hold_the_cache_lock() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let jdk = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 25, "slow25");
+        let ready = tmp.path().join("ready");
+        std::fs::write(
+            java_executable(&jdk.home),
+            format!("#!/bin/sh\ntouch '{}'\nexec /bin/sleep 2\n", ready.display()),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        std::thread::scope(|scope| {
+            let probe = scope.spawn(|| java_runs(&java_executable(&jdk.home)));
+            let started = Instant::now();
+            while !ready.exists() && started.elapsed() < Duration::from_secs(5) {
+                std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10));
+            }
+            assert!(ready.exists(), "the probe must start");
+            assert!(
+                JAVA_PROBES.try_lock().is_ok(),
+                "a running java -version must not lock out cached or unrelated probes"
+            );
+            assert!(probe.join().unwrap());
+        });
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[test]
+    fn only_excluded_jdks_change_the_generated_workspace() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let project = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 8, "project8");
+        let server = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 25, "server25");
+        let other_server = test_jdk(tmp.path(), 26, "server26");
+        let workspace = |jdks: &[Jdk], server: &Jdk, custom: bool| {
+            let mut cfg: LanguageServerConfig = toml::from_str("name = 'jdtls'\ncommand = 'jdtls'").unwrap();
+            if custom {
+                cfg.args.extend(["-data".into(), "/own/workspace".into()]);
+            }
+            configure_jdtls(&mut cfg, tmp.path(), tmp.path(), jdks, Some(&project), Some(server), 25, &[], None);
+            cfg.args.windows(2).find(|a| a[0] == "-data").unwrap()[1].clone()
+        };
+        let installed = [project.clone(), server.clone()];
+        let before = workspace(&installed, &server, false);
+        let original = tmp.path().join("lsp/jdtls").join(path_key(tmp.path()));
+        assert_eq!(before, original.to_string_lossy(), "working JDKs retain the pre-existing workspace");
+        assert_eq!(before, workspace(&[], &other_server, false), "installing or removing working JDKs keeps the path");
+        std::fs::write(java_executable(&project.home), "#!/bin/sh\nexit 126\n").unwrap();
+        let after = workspace(&installed, &server, false);
+        assert_ne!(before, after, "the workspace holding the now-invalid JDK must not be reused");
+        assert_eq!(after, workspace(&installed, &server, false));
+        assert_eq!(after, workspace(std::slice::from_ref(&other_server), &other_server, false));
+        assert_eq!(after, workspace(&[server.clone(), project.clone(), project.clone()], &server, false));
+        assert_eq!(workspace(&installed, &server, true), "/own/workspace");
+        write_test_java(&project.home);
+        assert_eq!(before, workspace(&installed, &server, false), "repairing the JDK restores the original path");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn jdtls_workspace_and_runtimes() {
         let fixtures = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/ide-sdk/src/jdtls.rs b/crates/ide-sdk/src/jdtls.rs
index 6bd8ae15c..a859d3932 100644
--- a/crates/ide-sdk/src/jdtls.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-sdk/src/jdtls.rs
@@ -292,8 +292,10 @@ pub fn launch_directly(cfg: &mut LanguageServerConfig) {
         }),
     };
     let Some((java, jdk)) = jdk.filter(|(java, _)| java.is_file()) else { return };
-    if !ide_core::java_runtime::supports_java_bundles(&jdk.home) {
-        cfg.launch_error = Some(crate::java::server_jdk_incomplete_message(&jdk, crate::java::jdtls_min_java(cfg)));
+    if let Some(error) = crate::java::server_jdk_metadata_error(&jdk, crate::java::jdtls_min_java(cfg))
+        .or_else(|| crate::java::java_execution_error(&java))
+    {
+        cfg.launch_error = Some(error);
         return;
     }
     cfg.args = java_args(&install, jdk.major, &cfg.args);
@@ -526,7 +528,7 @@ mod tests {
         )
         .unwrap();
         std::fs::write(jdk.join("bin/javac"), "").unwrap();
-        std::fs::write(jdk.join("bin/java"), "").unwrap();
+        crate::java::write_test_java(&jdk);
 
         let cfg = |command: &str| -> LanguageServerConfig {
             let mut cfg: LanguageServerConfig =
@@ -555,6 +557,25 @@ mod tests {
         launch_directly(&mut overridden);
         assert!(overridden.launch_error.unwrap().contains("jdk.jdi"));
 
+        let alternate = jdk.join("bin/alternate-java");
+        std::fs::write(&alternate, "#!/bin/sh\nexit 126\n").unwrap();
+        std::fs::set_permissions(&alternate, std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt::from_mode(0o755)).unwrap();
+        let mut overridden = cfg("jdtls");
+        overridden.args.push(format!("--java-executable={}", alternate.display()));
+        launch_directly(&mut overridden);
+        let error = overridden.launch_error.unwrap();
+        assert!(error.contains(alternate.to_string_lossy().as_ref()) && error.contains("cannot run"), "{error}");
+
+        let old = dir.path().join("jdk-17");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(old.join("bin")).unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(old.join("release"), "JAVA_VERSION=\"17\"\n").unwrap();
+        crate::java::write_test_java(&old);
+        let mut overridden = cfg("jdtls");
+        overridden.args.push(format!("--java-executable={}", old.join("bin/java").display()));
+        launch_directly(&mut overridden);
+        let error = overridden.launch_error.unwrap();
+        assert!(error.contains(old.to_string_lossy().as_ref()) && error.contains("too old"), "{error}");
+
         // Someone's own wrapper, or no usable JDK: the command is kept.
         std::fs::write(home.join("bin/my-jdtls"), "#!/bin/sh\n").unwrap();
         std::fs::set_permissions(home.join("bin/my-jdtls"), std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt::from_mode(0o755))
@@ -637,7 +658,7 @@ mod tests {
         )
         .unwrap();
         std::fs::write(jdk.join("bin").join(crate::exe("javac")), "").unwrap();
-        std::fs::write(jdk.join("bin").join(crate::exe("java")), "").unwrap();
+        crate::java::write_test_java(&jdk);
         let target = format!(
             "path = \"C:\\Python313\\python.exe\"\nargs = {}\n",
             home.join("bin").join("jdtls").to_string_lossy()
diff --git a/crates/ide-sdk/src/tests.rs b/crates/ide-sdk/src/tests.rs
index eb988bc37..ec9d12190 100644
--- a/crates/ide-sdk/src/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-sdk/src/tests.rs
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ fn npm_config_runs_on_its_own_node_interpreter() {
 
 fn fake_jdk(dir: &Path) {
     std::fs::create_dir_all(dir.join("bin")).unwrap();
-    std::fs::write(dir.join("bin").join(exe("java")), "").unwrap();
+    crate::java::write_test_java(dir);
     std::fs::write(
         dir.join("release"),
         "JAVA_VERSION=\"17.0.9\"\nMODULES=\"java.base jdk.compiler jdk.jdi jdk.unsupported\"\n",
@@ -921,6 +921,17 @@ fn jdtls_jdk_setting() {
     s.languages.java.jdtls_jdk = "jdk17.0.1".into();
     let err = jdtls_jdk(tmp.path(), &s).unwrap_err();
     assert!(err.contains("jdk17.0.1 does not exist") && err.contains("Languages & Frameworks › Java"), "{err}");
+
+    let bundle = tmp.path().join("outside-scan/jdk25.jdk");
+    let home = bundle.join("Contents/Home");
+    fake_jdk(&home);
+    for path in [&bundle, &home, &home.join("bin"), &home.join("bin/java")] {
+        s.languages.java.jdtls_jdk = path.to_string_lossy().into_owned();
+        assert_eq!(jdtls_jdk(tmp.path(), &s).unwrap().unwrap().home, dunce::canonicalize(&home).unwrap());
+    }
+    std::fs::write(home.join("bin/java"), "#!/bin/sh\nexit 126\n").unwrap();
+    let error = jdtls_jdk(tmp.path(), &s).unwrap_err();
+    assert!(error.contains(home.to_string_lossy().as_ref()) && error.contains("cannot run"), "{error}");
 }
 
 #[test]
diff --git a/src/platform/locales/text/en.json b/src/platform/locales/text/en.json
index 71f024e3f..e16d65813 100644
--- a/src/platform/locales/text/en.json
+++ b/src/platform/locales/text/en.json
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 {
+  "The language server Java executable ({path}) cannot run on this machine. Choose a working JDK in {setting}, or set it to Auto.": "The language server Java executable ({path}) cannot run on this machine. Choose a working JDK in {setting}, or set it to Auto.",
   "Input queue is full (4 MiB or 1024 writes); input was not sent.": "Input queue is full (4 MiB or 1024 writes); input was not sent.",
   "Cannot write to terminal": "Cannot write to terminal",
   "Docker": "Docker",
diff --git a/src/platform/locales/text/zh.json b/src/platform/locales/text/zh.json
index 6cd919a81..21455ff0a 100644
--- a/src/platform/locales/text/zh.json
+++ b/src/platform/locales/text/zh.json
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 {
+  "The language server Java executable ({path}) cannot run on this machine. Choose a working JDK in {setting}, or set it to Auto.": "语言服务器的 Java 可执行文件（{path}）无法在此机器上运行。请在 {setting} 中选择可正常运行的 JDK，或设为自动。",
   "Input queue is full (4 MiB or 1024 writes); input was not sent.": "输入队列已满（4 MiB 或 1024 次写入）；本次输入未发送。",
   "Cannot write to terminal": "无法写入终端",
   "Docker": "Docker",