diff --git a/client-sniffer/build.gradle b/client-sniffer/build.gradle
index c01f730e094..368cdaa073f 100644
--- a/client-sniffer/build.gradle
+++ b/client-sniffer/build.gradle
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ dependencies {
 forbiddenApisMain {
   //client does not depend on core, so only jdk signatures should be checked
   signaturesURLs = [PrecommitTasks.getResource('/forbidden/jdk-signatures.txt')]
-  targetCompatibility = 1.7
 }
 
 forbiddenApisTest {
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ forbiddenApisTest {
   bundledSignatures += 'jdk-internal'
   //client does not depend on core, so only jdk signatures should be checked
   signaturesURLs = [PrecommitTasks.getResource('/forbidden/jdk-signatures.txt')]
-  targetCompatibility = 1.7
 }
 
 //JarHell is part of es core, which we don't want to pull in
diff --git a/client/build.gradle b/client/build.gradle
index 30225382e41..afc2e6e1e7b 100644
--- a/client/build.gradle
+++ b/client/build.gradle
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ dependencies {
 forbiddenApisMain {
   //client does not depend on core, so only jdk signatures should be checked
   signaturesURLs = [PrecommitTasks.getResource('/forbidden/jdk-signatures.txt')]
-  targetCompatibility = 1.7
 }
 
 forbiddenApisTest {
@@ -56,7 +55,6 @@ forbiddenApisTest {
   bundledSignatures += 'jdk-internal'
   //client does not depend on core, so only jdk signatures should be checked
   signaturesURLs = [PrecommitTasks.getResource('/forbidden/jdk-signatures.txt')]
-  targetCompatibility = 1.7
 }
 
 //JarHell is part of es core, which we don't want to pull in