diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 8256e83e15..20e2b7f0dd 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -183,7 +183,9 @@ allprojects{
 //compile with java 8 compatibility for everything except the annotati project
 configure(subprojects - project(":annotations")){
     tasks.withType(JavaCompile){
-        options.release = 8
+        if(JavaVersion.current() != JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8){
+            options.compilerArgs.addAll(['--release', '8'])
+        }
     }
 
     tasks.withType(Javadoc){