--- a/distribution/src/bin/opensearch-env
+++ b/distribution/src/bin/opensearch-env
@@ -42,7 +42,13 @@
 OPENSEARCH_HOME=`dirname "$OPENSEARCH_HOME"`
 
 # now set the classpath
-OPENSEARCH_CLASSPATH="$OPENSEARCH_HOME/lib/*"
+OPENSEARCH_CLASSPATH=/usr/share/java/opensearch.jar
+
+# set JAVA_HOME for Debian
+JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/default-java
+
+# set OPENSEARCH_PATH_CONF for Debian
+test -z "$OPENSEARCH_PATH_CONF" && OPENSEARCH_PATH_CONF=/etc/opensearch
 
 # now set the path to java: OPENSEARCH_JAVA_HOME -> JAVA_HOME -> bundled JDK
 if [ ! -z "$OPENSEARCH_JAVA_HOME" ]; then