diff --git a/.semaphore/semaphore.yml b/.semaphore/semaphore.yml
index 59e81a18f..8e3256799 100644
--- a/.semaphore/semaphore.yml
+++ b/.semaphore/semaphore.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ global_job_config:
   prologue:
     commands:
       - checkout
-      - sem-version java 8
+      - if [[ $SEMAPHORE_GIT_BRANCH =~ ^7\..* ]]; then sem-version java 8; else sem-version java 17; fi
       - sem-version python 3.12
       - . vault-setup
       - . cache-maven restore