Index: java/ognl/OgnlException.java
===================================================================
--- java/ognl/OgnlException.java	(revision 141)
+++ java/ognl/OgnlException.java	(working copy)
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 package ognl;
 
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
 
+
 /**
  * Superclass for OGNL exceptions, incorporating an optional encapsulated exception.
  * @author Luke Blanshard (blanshlu@netscape.net)
@@ -73,8 +76,44 @@
     {
         super( msg );
         this.reason = reason;
+        initCauseIfPossible( reason );
     }
 
+    private void initCauseIfPossible( Throwable cause )
+    {
+        Method initCauseMethod = findMethod( "initCause", new Class[] { Throwable.class } );
+        if ( initCauseMethod != null )
+        {
+          invokeMethod( initCauseMethod, this, new Object[] { cause } );
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void invokeMethod( Method method, Object receiver, Object[] arguments )
+    {
+        try {
+            method.invoke( receiver, arguments );
+        }
+        catch ( IllegalAccessException e )
+        {
+            // ignore - at least we tried
+        }
+        catch ( InvocationTargetException e )
+        {
+            // ignore - at least we tried
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Method findMethod( String name, Class[] parameterTypes )
+    {
+        try {
+            return getClass().getMethod( name, parameterTypes );
+        }
+        catch ( NoSuchMethodException e )
+        {
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+
       /**
        * Returns the encapsulated exception, or null if there is none.
        * @return the encapsulated exception