diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 082c9d4d553..d947262985d 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -90,10 +90,6 @@ if (hasProperty('projectsPrefix') == false) {
 allprojects {
   // injecting groovy property variables into all projects
   project.ext {
-    // minimum java 8
-    sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
-    targetCompatibility = sourceCompatibility
-
     // for eclipse hacks...
     isEclipse = System.getProperty("eclipse.launcher") != null || gradle.startParameter.taskNames.contains('eclipse') || gradle.startParameter.taskNames.contains('cleanEclipse')
   }
@@ -136,7 +132,7 @@ allprojects {
 if (projectsPrefix.isEmpty()) {
   idea {
     project {
-      languageLevel = sourceCompatibility
+      languageLevel = org.elasticsearch.gradle.BuildPlugin.minimumJava
       vcs = 'Git'
     }
   }
diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/BuildPlugin.groovy b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/BuildPlugin.groovy
index 95871b63ca9..1e9d7cefd1c 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/BuildPlugin.groovy
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/org/elasticsearch/gradle/BuildPlugin.groovy
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ import org.gradle.util.GradleVersion
  */
 class BuildPlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
 
+    static final JavaVersion minimumJava = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+
     @Override
     void apply(Project project) {
-        globalBuildInfo(project)
-        configureRepositories(project)
         project.pluginManager.apply('java')
         project.pluginManager.apply('carrotsearch.randomized-testing')
         // these plugins add lots of info to our jars
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ class BuildPlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
         project.pluginManager.apply('nebula.info-scm')
         project.pluginManager.apply('nebula.info-jar')
 
+        globalBuildInfo(project)
+        configureRepositories(project)
         configureConfigurations(project)
         project.ext.versions = VersionProperties.versions
         configureCompile(project)
@@ -73,12 +75,14 @@ class BuildPlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
             }
 
             // enforce Java version
-            if (!JavaVersion.current().isJava8Compatible()) {
-                throw new GradleException('Java 8 or above is required to build Elasticsearch')
+            if (JavaVersion.current() < minimumJava) {
+                throw new GradleException("Java ${minimumJava} or above is required to build Elasticsearch")
             }
 
             project.rootProject.ext.buildChecksDone = true
         }
+        project.targetCompatibility = minimumJava
+        project.sourceCompatibility = minimumJava
     }
 
     /** Makes dependencies non-transitive by default */