diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 98395fbe0ba..e797f4e82c2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ Runs the tests
 > mvn test
 ```
 
+Tests can be run with specified httpPort.
+
+```
+> mvn test -Dvertx.httpPort=8888
+```
+
 Vert.x supports native transport on BSD and Linux, to run the tests with native transport
 
 ```
diff --git a/src/test/java/io/vertx/core/http/HttpTestBase.java b/src/test/java/io/vertx/core/http/HttpTestBase.java
index ad1998dc51c..e9b5a547282 100644
--- a/src/test/java/io/vertx/core/http/HttpTestBase.java
+++ b/src/test/java/io/vertx/core/http/HttpTestBase.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public class HttpTestBase extends VertxTestBase {
 
   public static final String DEFAULT_HTTP_HOST = "localhost";
   public static final int DEFAULT_HTTP_PORT = Integer.parseInt(System.getProperty("vertx.httpPort", "8080"));
+  public static final int DEFAULT_HTTP_HOST_AND_PORT = Integer.parseInt(System.getProperty("vertx.httpHostPort", "localhost:8080"));
   public static final String DEFAULT_HTTPS_HOST = "localhost";
   public static final int DEFAULT_HTTPS_PORT = 4043;
   public static final String DEFAULT_HTTPS_HOST_AND_PORT = "localhost:4043";