diff --git a/pax-web-jetty/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/web/service/jetty/internal/HttpServiceServletHandler.java b/pax-web-jetty/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/web/service/jetty/internal/HttpServiceServletHandler.java
index 57dd1a416..e88d9908b 100644
--- a/pax-web-jetty/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/web/service/jetty/internal/HttpServiceServletHandler.java
+++ b/pax-web-jetty/src/main/java/org/ops4j/pax/web/service/jetty/internal/HttpServiceServletHandler.java
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ class HttpServiceServletHandler extends ServletHandler {
 			final HttpServletRequest request, final HttpServletResponse response)
 			throws IOException, ServletException {
 		if (request.getMethod().equals(METHOD_TRACE)) {
-			throw new ServletException("HTTP TRACE method is disabled");
+                    baseRequest.setHandled(true);
+                    response.setStatus(HttpServletResponse.SC_METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED);
+                    return;
 		}
 		// we have to set the jetty request as a request attribute if not
 		// already set in order to be able to handle the