diff --git a/node/src/integration-test/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/messaging/ArtemisMessagingTest.kt b/node/src/integration-test/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/messaging/ArtemisMessagingTest.kt
index 5a8c5736f0..7bc03883b1 100644
--- a/node/src/integration-test/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/messaging/ArtemisMessagingTest.kt
+++ b/node/src/integration-test/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/messaging/ArtemisMessagingTest.kt
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import net.corda.core.utilities.NetworkHostAndPort
 import net.corda.core.utilities.seconds
 import net.corda.coretesting.internal.rigorousMock
 import net.corda.coretesting.internal.stubs.CertificateStoreStubs
+import net.corda.node.services.config.CustomConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.FlowTimeoutConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.NodeConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.configureWithDevSSLCertificate
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ class ArtemisMessagingTest {
             doReturn(FlowTimeoutConfiguration(5.seconds, 3, backoffBase = 1.0)).whenever(it).flowTimeout
             doReturn(true).whenever(it).crlCheckSoftFail
             doReturn(true).whenever(it).crlCheckArtemisServer
+            doReturn(CustomConfiguration()).whenever(it).custom
         }
         LogHelper.setLevel(PersistentUniquenessProvider::class)
         database = configureDatabase(makeTestDataSourceProperties(), DatabaseConfig(), { null }, { null })
diff --git a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/internal/AbstractNode.kt b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/internal/AbstractNode.kt
index 19d237e0b0..65a587e407 100644
--- a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/internal/AbstractNode.kt
+++ b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/internal/AbstractNode.kt
@@ -1178,7 +1178,7 @@ abstract class AbstractNode<S>(val configuration: NodeConfiguration,
     inner class ServiceHubImpl : SingletonSerializeAsToken(), ServiceHubInternal, NetworkParameterUpdateListener {
         override val rpcFlows = ArrayList<Class<out FlowLogic<*>>>()
         override val stateMachineRecordedTransactionMapping = DBTransactionMappingStorage(database)
-        override val externalVerifierHandle = ExternalVerifierHandleImpl(this, configuration.baseDirectory).also { runOnStop += it::close }
+        override val externalVerifierHandle = ExternalVerifierHandleImpl(this, configuration.baseDirectory, configuration.custom?.externalVerifierJvmArgs ?: emptyList()).also { runOnStop += it::close }
         override val identityService: IdentityService get() = this@AbstractNode.identityService
         override val keyManagementService: KeyManagementService get() = this@AbstractNode.keyManagementService
         override val schemaService: SchemaService get() = this@AbstractNode.schemaService
diff --git a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/NodeConfiguration.kt b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/NodeConfiguration.kt
index 7fa506d885..fea84e2448 100644
--- a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/NodeConfiguration.kt
+++ b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/NodeConfiguration.kt
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ interface NodeConfiguration : ConfigurationWithOptionsContainer {
     val verifierType: VerifierType
     val flowTimeout: FlowTimeoutConfiguration
     val telemetry: TelemetryConfiguration
+    val custom: CustomConfiguration?
     val notary: NotaryConfig?
     val additionalNodeInfoPollingFrequencyMsec: Long
     val p2pAddress: NetworkHostAndPort
@@ -229,6 +230,11 @@ data class TelemetryConfiguration(
         val copyBaggageToTags: Boolean
 )
 
+data class CustomConfiguration(
+        val jvmArgs: List<String> = emptyList(),
+        val externalVerifierJvmArgs: List<String> = emptyList()
+)
+
 /**
  * Represents a list of rotated CorDapp attachment signing keys.
  *
diff --git a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/NodeConfigurationImpl.kt b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/NodeConfigurationImpl.kt
index f02abcdb70..91b014d7c5 100644
--- a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/NodeConfigurationImpl.kt
+++ b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/NodeConfigurationImpl.kt
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ data class NodeConfigurationImpl(
         override val verifierType: VerifierType,
         override val flowTimeout: FlowTimeoutConfiguration,
         override val telemetry: TelemetryConfiguration = Defaults.telemetry,
+        override val custom: CustomConfiguration = Defaults.custom,
         override val p2pAddress: NetworkHostAndPort,
         override val additionalP2PAddresses: List<NetworkHostAndPort> = Defaults.additionalP2PAddresses,
         private val rpcAddress: NetworkHostAndPort? = Defaults.rpcAddress,
@@ -138,6 +139,7 @@ data class NodeConfigurationImpl(
                 exportHibernateJMXStatistics = devMode
         )
         val telemetry = TelemetryConfiguration(openTelemetryEnabled = true, simpleLogTelemetryEnabled = false, spanStartEndEventsEnabled = false, copyBaggageToTags = false)
+        val custom: CustomConfiguration = CustomConfiguration()
     }
 
     companion object {
diff --git a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/schema/v1/ConfigSections.kt b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/schema/v1/ConfigSections.kt
index a474ebb3d5..b208270917 100644
--- a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/schema/v1/ConfigSections.kt
+++ b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/schema/v1/ConfigSections.kt
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import net.corda.core.internal.notary.NotaryServiceFlow
 import net.corda.node.services.config.AuthDataSourceType
 import net.corda.node.services.config.CertChainPolicyConfig
 import net.corda.node.services.config.CertChainPolicyType
+import net.corda.node.services.config.CustomConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.DevModeOptions
 import net.corda.node.services.config.FlowOverride
 import net.corda.node.services.config.FlowOverrideConfig
@@ -226,6 +227,15 @@ internal object TelemetryConfigurationSpec : Configuration.Specification<Telemet
     }
 }
 
+internal object CustomConfigurationSpec : Configuration.Specification<CustomConfiguration>("CustomConfiguration") {
+    private val jvmArgs by string().listOrEmpty()
+    private val externalVerifierJvmArgs by string().listOrEmpty()
+    override fun parseValid(configuration: Config, options: Configuration.Options): Valid<CustomConfiguration> {
+        val config = configuration.withOptions(options)
+        return valid(CustomConfiguration(config[jvmArgs], config[externalVerifierJvmArgs]))
+    }
+}
+
 internal object RotatedSignerKeySpec : Configuration.Specification<RotatedCorDappSignerKeyConfiguration>("RotatedCorDappSignerKeyConfiguration") {
     private val rotatedKeys by string().listOrEmpty()
     override fun parseValid(configuration: Config, options: Configuration.Options): Valid<RotatedCorDappSignerKeyConfiguration> {
diff --git a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/schema/v1/V1NodeConfigurationSpec.kt b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/schema/v1/V1NodeConfigurationSpec.kt
index 87e4153af7..b329e76fd9 100644
--- a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/schema/v1/V1NodeConfigurationSpec.kt
+++ b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/config/schema/v1/V1NodeConfigurationSpec.kt
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@ internal object V1NodeConfigurationSpec : Configuration.Specification<NodeConfig
     private val quasarExcludePackages by string().list().optional().withDefaultValue(Defaults.quasarExcludePackages)
     private val reloadCheckpointAfterSuspend by boolean().optional().withDefaultValue(Defaults.reloadCheckpointAfterSuspend)
     private val networkParametersPath by string().mapValid(::toPath).optional()
-    @Suppress("unused")
-    private val custom by nestedObject().optional()
+    private val custom by nested(CustomConfigurationSpec).optional().withDefaultValue(Defaults.custom)
     @Suppress("unused")
     private val systemProperties by nestedObject().optional()
 
@@ -97,6 +96,7 @@ internal object V1NodeConfigurationSpec : Configuration.Specification<NodeConfig
                     verifierType = config[verifierType],
                     flowTimeout = config[flowTimeout],
                     telemetry = config[telemetry],
+                    custom = config[custom],
                     rpcSettings = config[rpcSettings],
                     messagingServerAddress = config[messagingServerAddress],
                     notary = config[notary],
diff --git a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/verification/ExternalVerifierHandleImpl.kt b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/verification/ExternalVerifierHandleImpl.kt
index f66ff00ca1..3520115371 100644
--- a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/verification/ExternalVerifierHandleImpl.kt
+++ b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/verification/ExternalVerifierHandleImpl.kt
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ import kotlin.io.path.isWritable
  */
 class ExternalVerifierHandleImpl(
         private val verificationSupport: NodeVerificationSupport,
-        private val baseDirectory: Path
+        private val baseDirectory: Path,
+        private val jvmArgsFromConfig: List<String>
 ) : ExternalVerifierHandle {
     companion object {
         private val log = contextLogger()
@@ -207,6 +208,7 @@ class ExternalVerifierHandleImpl(
             val command = ArrayList<String>()
             command += "${Path(System.getProperty("java.home"), "bin", "java")}"
             command += inheritedJvmArgs
+            command += jvmArgsFromConfig
 
             // Build list of 3rd party jars
             val legacyJarsPath = baseDirectory / "legacy-jars"
diff --git a/node/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/node/internal/NodeH2SecurityTests.kt b/node/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/node/internal/NodeH2SecurityTests.kt
index 1c46fa8c54..ce5494f5cb 100644
--- a/node/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/node/internal/NodeH2SecurityTests.kt
+++ b/node/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/node/internal/NodeH2SecurityTests.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import net.corda.core.identity.CordaX500Name
 import net.corda.core.serialization.SerializeAsToken
 import net.corda.core.utilities.NetworkHostAndPort
 import net.corda.node.VersionInfo
+import net.corda.node.services.config.CustomConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.NodeConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.NodeH2Settings
 import net.corda.node.services.events.NodeSchedulerService
@@ -138,6 +139,7 @@ class NodeH2SecurityTests {
         whenever(config.effectiveH2Settings).thenAnswer { NodeH2Settings(address) }
         whenever(config.telemetry).thenReturn(mock())
         whenever(config.myLegalName).thenReturn(CordaX500Name(null, "client-${address.toString()}", "Corda", "London", null, "GB"))
+        whenever(config.custom).thenReturn(CustomConfiguration())
     }
 
     private inner class MockNode : Node(config, VersionInfo.UNKNOWN, false) {
diff --git a/node/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/node/utilities/registration/NetworkRegistrationHelperTest.kt b/node/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/node/utilities/registration/NetworkRegistrationHelperTest.kt
index 3e434cf76b..cf3f2d7b93 100644
--- a/node/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/node/utilities/registration/NetworkRegistrationHelperTest.kt
+++ b/node/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/node/utilities/registration/NetworkRegistrationHelperTest.kt
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import net.corda.core.utilities.seconds
 import net.corda.coretesting.internal.rigorousMock
 import net.corda.coretesting.internal.stubs.CertificateStoreStubs
 import net.corda.node.NodeRegistrationOption
+import net.corda.node.services.config.CustomConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.NodeConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.NotaryConfig
 import net.corda.nodeapi.internal.crypto.CertificateAndKeyPair
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ class NetworkRegistrationHelperTest {
             doReturn(null).whenever(it).tlsCertCrlIssuer
             doReturn(true).whenever(it).crlCheckSoftFail
             doReturn(null).whenever(it).notary
+            doReturn(CustomConfiguration()).whenever(it).custom
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/testing/node-driver/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/testing/node/internal/InternalMockNetwork.kt b/testing/node-driver/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/testing/node/internal/InternalMockNetwork.kt
index 640705903a..a006341656 100644
--- a/testing/node-driver/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/testing/node/internal/InternalMockNetwork.kt
+++ b/testing/node-driver/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/testing/node/internal/InternalMockNetwork.kt
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import net.corda.node.internal.NodeFlowManager
 import net.corda.node.services.api.FlowStarter
 import net.corda.node.services.api.ServiceHubInternal
 import net.corda.node.services.api.StartedNodeServices
+import net.corda.node.services.config.CustomConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.FlowTimeoutConfiguration
 import net.corda.node.services.config.NetworkParameterAcceptanceSettings
 import net.corda.node.services.config.NodeConfiguration
@@ -487,6 +488,7 @@ open class InternalMockNetwork(cordappPackages: List<String> = emptyList(),
             doReturn(emptyList<SecureHash>()).whenever(it).extraNetworkMapKeys
             doReturn(listOf(baseDirectory / "cordapps")).whenever(it).cordappDirectories
             doReturn(emptyList<String>()).whenever(it).quasarExcludePackages
+            doReturn(CustomConfiguration()).whenever(it).custom
             doReturn(TelemetryConfiguration(openTelemetryEnabled = true, simpleLogTelemetryEnabled = false, spanStartEndEventsEnabled = false, copyBaggageToTags = false)).whenever(it).telemetry
             parameters.configOverrides(it)
         }
@@ -674,6 +676,7 @@ private fun mockNodeConfiguration(certificatesDirectory: Path): NodeConfiguratio
         doReturn(2).whenever(it).flowExternalOperationThreadPoolSize
         doReturn(false).whenever(it).reloadCheckpointAfterSuspend
         doReturn(emptyList<RotatedCorDappSignerKeyConfiguration>()).whenever(it).rotatedCordappSignerKeys
+        doReturn(CustomConfiguration()).whenever(it).custom
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/testing/smoke-test-utils/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/smoketesting/NodeParams.kt b/testing/smoke-test-utils/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/smoketesting/NodeParams.kt
index 4eb065d787..e33cd6dbc6 100644
--- a/testing/smoke-test-utils/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/smoketesting/NodeParams.kt
+++ b/testing/smoke-test-utils/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/smoketesting/NodeParams.kt
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ class NodeParams @JvmOverloads constructor(
                 .withValue("useTestClock", valueFor(true))
                 .withValue("jarDirs", valueFor(jarDirs.map(Path::absolutePathString)))
                 .withValue("devMode", valueFor(devMode))
+                .withValue("custom", empty()
+                        .withValue("externalVerifierJvmArgs", valueFor(listOf("-Duser.name=Alice")))
+                        .root())
         return if (isNotary) {
             config.withValue("notary", ConfigValueFactory.fromMap(mapOf("validating" to true)))
         } else {