diff --git a/spring-boot-autoconfigure/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/autoconfigure/jdbc/DataSourceProperties.java b/spring-boot-autoconfigure/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/autoconfigure/jdbc/DataSourceProperties.java
index 60ad720104..1030a051c3 100644
--- a/spring-boot-autoconfigure/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/autoconfigure/jdbc/DataSourceProperties.java
+++ b/spring-boot-autoconfigure/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/autoconfigure/jdbc/DataSourceProperties.java
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ public class DataSourceProperties implements BeanClassLoaderAware, EnvironmentAw
 
 	public String getDriverClassName() {
 		if (StringUtils.hasText(this.driverClassName)) {
-			Assert.state(ClassUtils.isPresent(this.driverClassName, null),
+			Assert.state(driverClassIsLoadable(),
 					"Cannot load driver class: " + this.driverClassName);
 			return this.driverClassName;
 		}
@@ -182,6 +182,20 @@ public class DataSourceProperties implements BeanClassLoaderAware, EnvironmentAw
 		return driverClassName;
 	}
 
+	private boolean driverClassIsLoadable() {
+		try {
+			ClassUtils.forName(this.driverClassName, null);
+			return true;
+		}
+		catch (UnsupportedClassVersionError ucve) {
+			// driver library has been compiled with a later JDK, propagate error
+			throw ucve;
+		}
+		catch (Throwable t) {
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+
 	public void setDriverClassName(String driverClassName) {
 		this.driverClassName = driverClassName;
 	}