diff --git a/fineract-client/build.gradle b/fineract-client/build.gradle
index a5a8ecc9a..9308314c3 100644
--- a/fineract-client/build.gradle
+++ b/fineract-client/build.gradle
@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ sourceSets {
     }
 }
 
+java {
+    // keep this at Java 8, not 11; see https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/FINERACT-1214
+    sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+    targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+}
+
 compileJava {
     source += sourceSets.generated.java
 }