diff --git a/metadata/layout.conf b/metadata/layout.conf
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metadata/layout.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#see portage manpage
+# eclasses provided by java-overlay take precedence over identically named
+# eclasses that are provided by gentoo
+masters = gentoo java-overlay