basicvmtest checks that java can be started with a couple flags:
# flags used to execute java in test targets
TEST_FLAGS += -version -Xinternalversion -X -help
sanitytest: prep $(PRODUCT_HOME)
        @for flag in $(TEST_FLAGS); \
        do \
            echo Executing java $(JAVA_OPTIONS) $$flag; \
            $(PRODUCT_HOME)/bin/java $(JAVA_OPTIONS) $$flag; \
            res=$$?; \
            if [ $$res -ne 0 ]; then \
                exit $$res; \
            fi; \
        done