diff --git a/closed/test/jtreg-ext/requires/OpenJ9PropsExt.java b/closed/test/jtreg-ext/requires/OpenJ9PropsExt.java
index d3047068e0f..6adfd5659de 100644
--- a/closed/test/jtreg-ext/requires/OpenJ9PropsExt.java
+++ b/closed/test/jtreg-ext/requires/OpenJ9PropsExt.java
@@ -30,15 +30,30 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
 
 public class OpenJ9PropsExt implements Callable<Map<String, String>> {
-
+    private static final String ERROR_STATE = "__ERROR__";
     @Override
     public Map<String, String> call() {
 
         Map<String, String> map = new HashMap<>();
         map.put("vm.graal.enabled", "false");
+        map.put("vm.bits", vmBits());
  
         return map;
     }
-
+    private String errorWithMessage(String message) {
+        new Exception(message).printStackTrace();
+        return ERROR_STATE + message;
+    }
+    /**
+     * @return VM bitness, the value of the "sun.arch.data.model" property.
+     */
+    protected String vmBits() {
+        String dataModel = System.getProperty("sun.arch.data.model");
+        if (dataModel != null) {
+            return dataModel;
+        } else {
+            return errorWithMessage("Can't get 'sun.arch.data.model' property");
+        }
+    }
 }