diff --git a/client/rest/build.gradle b/client/rest/build.gradle
index 6b22b7b909909..7bbcb1df85694 100644
--- a/client/rest/build.gradle
+++ b/client/rest/build.gradle
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ apply plugin: 'elasticsearch.build'
 apply plugin: 'nebula.maven-base-publish'
 apply plugin: 'nebula.maven-scm'
 
-targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
-sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
+targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 
 group = 'org.elasticsearch.client'
 archivesBaseName = 'elasticsearch-rest-client'
diff --git a/client/sniffer/build.gradle b/client/sniffer/build.gradle
index 382a3f3c9d121..fffc1b711b25c 100644
--- a/client/sniffer/build.gradle
+++ b/client/sniffer/build.gradle
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ apply plugin: 'elasticsearch.build'
 apply plugin: 'nebula.maven-base-publish'
 apply plugin: 'nebula.maven-scm'
 
-targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
-sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
+targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 
 group = 'org.elasticsearch.client'
 archivesBaseName = 'elasticsearch-rest-client-sniffer'
diff --git a/client/test/build.gradle b/client/test/build.gradle
index f184cfbb73c3d..25cf23672dac6 100644
--- a/client/test/build.gradle
+++ b/client/test/build.gradle
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
  */
 apply plugin: 'elasticsearch.build'
 
-targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
-sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
+targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 
 group = "${group}.client.test"