diff --git a/apache-maven/src/assembly/maven/bin/mvn b/apache-maven/src/assembly/maven/bin/mvn
index d516a8d93c..5888451f5f 100755
--- a/apache-maven/src/assembly/maven/bin/mvn
+++ b/apache-maven/src/assembly/maven/bin/mvn
@@ -107,6 +107,13 @@ else
   fi
 fi
 
+if ! "$JAVACMD" --enable-native-access=ALL-UNNAMED -version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "Error: Apache Maven 4.x requires Java 17 or newer to run." >&2
+  "$JAVACMD" -version >&2
+  echo "Please upgrade your Java installation or set JAVA_HOME to point to a compatible JDK." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 # traverses directory structure from process work directory to filesystem root
 # first directory with .mvn subdirectory is considered project base directory
 find_maven_basedir() {
diff --git a/apache-maven/src/assembly/maven/bin/mvn.cmd b/apache-maven/src/assembly/maven/bin/mvn.cmd
index b5e204cb30..dcc413ce4b 100644
--- a/apache-maven/src/assembly/maven/bin/mvn.cmd
+++ b/apache-maven/src/assembly/maven/bin/mvn.cmd
@@ -69,6 +69,16 @@ if not exist "%JAVACMD%" (
   echo The java.exe command does not exist in PATH nor is JAVA_HOME set, so Apache Maven cannot be started. >&2
   goto error
 )
+
+@REM Check Java version by testing the Java 17+ flag
+"%JAVACMD%" --enable-native-access=ALL-UNNAMED -version >nul 2>&1
+if ERRORLEVEL 1 (
+    echo Error: Apache Maven 4.x requires Java 17 or newer to run. >&2
+    "%JAVACMD%" -version >&2
+    echo Please upgrade your Java installation or set JAVA_HOME to point to a compatible JDK. >&2
+    goto error
+)
+
 :chkMHome
 set "MAVEN_HOME=%~dp0"
 set "MAVEN_HOME=%MAVEN_HOME:~0,-5%"