diff --git a/engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/TransMeta.java b/engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/TransMeta.java
index 46eb75c01e7f..fef38f5698ca 100644
--- a/engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/TransMeta.java
+++ b/engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/TransMeta.java
@@ -2786,7 +2786,7 @@ public TransMeta( String fname, IMetaStore metaStore, Repository rep, boolean se
     Document doc = null;
     try {
       if (parentVariableSpace == null ) {
-        parentVariableSpace = new Variables();
+        parentVariableSpace = Variables.getADefaultVariableSpace();
       }
 
       final FileObject transFile = KettleVFS.getFileObject( fname, parentVariableSpace );
diff --git a/engine/src/test/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/TransMetaTest.java b/engine/src/test/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/TransMetaTest.java
index 3a72a7dba4a5..ec489faa2118 100644
--- a/engine/src/test/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/TransMetaTest.java
+++ b/engine/src/test/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/TransMetaTest.java
@@ -867,4 +867,13 @@ public void testSetInternalEntryCurrentDirectoryWithoutFilenameOrRepository( ) {
 
     assertEquals( "Original value defined at run execution", transMetaTest.getVariable( Const.INTERNAL_VARIABLE_ENTRY_CURRENT_DIRECTORY ) );
   }
+  
+  @Test
+  public void testTransMetaUsingDefaultVariableSpaceWithSystemProperties() {
+    System.setProperty( "TransMetaTest.A_TEST_PROPERTY", "1000" );
+    TransMeta transMeta = new TransMeta();
+    assertEquals( "1000", transMeta.getVariable( "TransMetaTest.A_TEST_PROPERTY" ) );
+    System.clearProperty( "TransMetaTest.A_TEST_PROPERTY" );
+  }
+  
 }