diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
index 084b359..75c07fe 100644
--- a/build.xml
+++ b/build.xml
@@ -147,12 +147,25 @@
 
     <mkdir dir="${_javaccOutputDir}" />
     <ivy:retrieve conf="parser" pattern="build/javacc-home.tmp/[artifact].[ext]" />
+    <!-- avoid usage of word template which is now a keyword in javacc -->
+    <copy file="src/main/javacc/FTL.jj" tofile="${_javaccOutputDir}/FTL.jj"/>
+    <replace
+      file="${_javaccOutputDir}/FTL.jj"
+      token="template"
+      value="xtemplate"
+    />
     <javacc:generate
-      target="src/main/javacc/FTL.jj"
+      target="${_javaccOutputDir}/FTL.jj"
       outputdirectory="${_javaccOutputDir}"
       javacchome="build/javacc-home.tmp"
     />
     <delete dir="build/javacc-home.tmp" />
+    <!-- undo template keyword replacement -->
+    <replace
+      dir="${_javaccOutputDir}"
+      token="xtemplate"
+      value="template"
+    />
 
     <replace
       file="${_javaccOutputDir}/FMParser.java"