diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index f18d0f90b..d636a04a6 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ tasks {
         options.encoding = "UTF-8"
         // Because we set the `release` option, you can no longer build ion-java using JDK 8. However, we continue to
         // emit JDK 8 compatible classes due to widespread use of this library with JDK 8.
-        options.release.set(8)
+        // options.release.set(8)
     }
 
     jar {