run.args.extra= -J-D....

In a module suite's nbproject/project.properties file there is
    run.args.extra=
-J-Dcom.raelity.jvi.motd=file:///c:/a/src/jvi-docs/htdocs/motd
and in a module there is
    String s = System.getProperty("com.raelity.jvi.motd");
The variable 's' is always null when I run NB from NB. I have tried
quoting the run.args.extra in various ways, but no luck. I'm working on
windows.

Any idea what dumb thing I'm doing?

-ernie