diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/springframework/gradle/SpringJavaPlugin.java b/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/springframework/gradle/SpringJavaPlugin.java
index b54158e7..96f0d966 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/springframework/gradle/SpringJavaPlugin.java
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/springframework/gradle/SpringJavaPlugin.java
@@ -73,14 +73,14 @@ public class SpringJavaPlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
 
 		// Apply Java source compatibility version
 		JavaPluginExtension java = project.getExtensions().getByType(JavaPluginExtension.class);
-		java.setTargetCompatibility(JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8);
+		java.setTargetCompatibility(JavaVersion.VERSION_11);
 
 		// Configure Java tasks
 		project.getTasks().withType(JavaCompile.class, (javaCompile) -> {
 			CompileOptions options = javaCompile.getOptions();
 			options.setEncoding("UTF-8");
 			options.getCompilerArgs().add("-parameters");
-			options.getRelease().set(8);
+			options.getRelease().set(11);
 		});
 		project.getTasks().withType(Jar.class, (jar) -> jar.manifest((manifest) -> {
 			Map<String, String> attributes = new HashMap<>();