diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-gradle.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-gradle.yml
index 7bc8bcb8e..45305a809 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-gradle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-gradle.yml
@@ -71,12 +71,12 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        java_version: [ 8, 11, 17 ]
+        java_version: [ 11, 17 ]
         os: [ macos-10.15,  macos-11, ubuntu-18.04, ubuntu-20.04, windows-2019, windows-2022 ]
         include:
           - release_from_this_build: true
             os: ubuntu-20.04
-            java_version: 8
+            java_version: 11
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     env:
       SIGN_ARTIFACTS: ${{ secrets.ARTIFACT_SIGNING_KEY != '' }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a81c57bfc..8ab0d8c1a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -71,12 +71,12 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        java_version: [ 8, 11, 17 ]
+        java_version: [ 11, 17 ]
         os: [ macos-10.15,  macos-11, ubuntu-18.04, ubuntu-20.04, windows-2019, windows-2022 ]
         include:
           - release_from_this_build: true
             os: ubuntu-20.04
-            java_version: 8
+            java_version: 11
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     env:
       SIGN_ARTIFACTS: ${{ secrets.ARTIFACT_SIGNING_KEY != '' }}
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ jobs:
         if: matrix.release_from_this_build
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
         with:
-          # Using github.run_number here to reduce confusion when downloading & comparing artifacts from several builds  
+          # Using github.run_number here to reduce confusion when downloading & comparing artifacts from several builds
           name: ${{ github.run_number }}-artifacts
           path: |
             target/*.asc
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 014f46dac..bf006019c 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ dependencies {
 
 group = "net.sourceforge.plantuml"
 description = "PlantUML"
-java.sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
-java.targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 
 java {
   withSourcesJar()
@@ -51,6 +49,10 @@ sourceSets {
   }
 }
 
+tasks.compileJava {
+	options.release.set(8)
+}
+
 tasks.withType<Jar> {
   manifest {
     attributes["Main-Class"] = "net.sourceforge.plantuml.Run"
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index a4e99df4d..250e37f7f 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@
   </parent>
   <properties>
     <finalName>${project.artifactId}-${project.version}</finalName>
-    <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
-    <maven.compiler.target>1.8</maven.compiler.target>
+    <maven.compiler.release>8</maven.compiler.release>
     <main.class>net.sourceforge.plantuml.Run</main.class>
   </properties>
   <dependencyManagement>