By default, a PaX kernel will block the JVM from allocating executable memory which is needed for the JIT. The executables need to be marked so as to disable MPROTECT (https://pax.grsecurity.net/docs/mprotect.txt).

OpenJDK builds using the old build system (6 & 7) run the just-built JVM at two points; test_gamma in HotSpot and rmic in the JDK build. For this to work on a PaX kernel, the build needs to disable MPROTECT before running the executables.