Generic java agent installation fails after upgrade to JavaEE cartridge version 5.9.6 (4242782)

Specifying JAVA_HOME during generic java agent installation is meant to be optional. However, after upgrading to JavaEE cartridge version 5.9.6, the generic java agent installation fails if JAVA_HOME is not specified.  Task History will report that the integration task has failure.
More details of the failure below:
WARN: Generic installation only on Solaris, Linux, HP-UX, or AIX: InstallConfigsandPreinstrument: No write permission on target or its container/folder, skipping: Preinstrument

FAIL: Generic installation only on Solaris, Linux, HP-UX, or AIX: InstallConfigsandPreinstrument:com.quest.cartridge.jee.common.integration.TargetNotFoundException: Failed to resolve any targets - verify that integration startup type is appropriate for provided application server and that provided paths and services exist: { integrationTask : Generic installation only on Solaris, Linux, HP-UX, or AIX: InstallConfigsandPreinstrument }