diff --git a/.github/workflows/master.yml b/.github/workflows/master.yml
index 0215b16..bc9d5f8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/master.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/master.yml
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v1
       - uses: gradle/wrapper-validation-action@v1
-      - name: Set up JDK 11
+      - name: Set up JDK 1.8
         uses: actions/setup-java@v1
         with:
-          java-version: '11.0.17'
+          java-version: '8.0.282'
       - name: build test and publish
         run: ./gradlew assemble && ./gradlew check --info && ./gradlew publishToSonatype closeAndReleaseSonatypeStagingRepository -x check --info --stacktrace
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pull_request.yml b/.github/workflows/pull_request.yml
index 572b8d8..206d52a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pull_request.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pull_request.yml
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v1
       - uses: gradle/wrapper-validation-action@v1
-      - name: Set up JDK 11
+      - name: Set up JDK 1.8
         uses: actions/setup-java@v1
         with:
-          java-version: '11.0.17'
+          java-version: '8.0.282'
       - name: build and test
         run: ./gradlew assemble && ./gradlew check --info --stacktrace
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 9158bea..b61d755 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v1
       - uses: gradle/wrapper-validation-action@v1
-      - name: Set up JDK 11
+      - name: Set up JDK 1.8
         uses: actions/setup-java@v1
         with:
-          java-version: '11.0.17'
+          java-version: '8.0.282'
       - name: build test and publish
         run: ./gradlew assemble && ./gradlew check --info && ./gradlew publishToSonatype closeAndReleaseSonatypeStagingRepository -x check --info --stacktrace
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 7834972..057c777 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -12,6 +12,15 @@ plugins {
     id "biz.aQute.bnd.builder" version "6.4.0"
 }
 
+if (JavaVersion.current() != JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8) {
+    def msg = String.format("This build must be run with java 1.8 - you are running %s - gradle finds the JDK via JAVA_HOME=%s",
+            JavaVersion.current(), System.getenv("JAVA_HOME"))
+    throw new GradleException(msg)
+}
+
+sourceCompatibility = 1.8
+targetCompatibility = 1.8
+
 def getDevelopmentVersion() {
     def output = new StringBuilder()
     def error = new StringBuilder()
@@ -25,27 +34,16 @@ def getDevelopmentVersion() {
     "0.0.0-" + new SimpleDateFormat('yyyy-MM-dd\'T\'HH-mm-ss').format(new Date()) + "-" + gitHash
 }
 
-
 def releaseVersion = System.env.RELEASE_VERSION
 version = releaseVersion ? releaseVersion : getDevelopmentVersion()
 println "Building version = " + version
 group = 'com.graphql-java'
 
-if (JavaVersion.current() != JavaVersion.VERSION_11) {
-    def msg = String.format("This build must be run with Java 11 - you are running %s - gradle finds the JDK via JAVA_HOME=%s",
-            JavaVersion.current(), System.getenv("JAVA_HOME"))
-    throw new GradleException(msg)
-}
-
-sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_11.toString()
-targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_11.toString()
-
 repositories {
     mavenCentral()
     mavenLocal()
 }
 
-
 dependencies {
     compile "com.graphql-java:graphql-java:20.2"