diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 30bc9da..d70458b 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -139,7 +139,9 @@ java {
 }
 
 compileJava {
-    options.compilerArgs.addAll(['--release', '8'])
+    if (JavaVersion.current() != JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8) {
+        options.compilerArgs.addAll(['--release', '8'])
+    }
 }
 
 createPackages.dependsOn(build)