diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/InstrumentPlugin.groovy b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/InstrumentPlugin.groovy
index fed739a19e4..aba81035237 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/InstrumentPlugin.groovy
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/InstrumentPlugin.groovy
@@ -152,17 +152,16 @@ abstract class InstrumentTask extends DefaultTask {
   }
 
   private workQueue() {
-    if (this.javaVersion) {
-      def javaLauncher = this.javaToolchainService.launcherFor { spec ->
-        spec.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(this.javaVersion))
-      }.get()
-      return this.workerExecutor.processIsolation { spec ->
-        spec.forkOptions { fork ->
-          fork.executable = javaLauncher.executablePath
-        }
+    if (!this.javaVersion) {
+      this.javaVersion = "8"
+    }
+    def javaLauncher = this.javaToolchainService.launcherFor { spec ->
+      spec.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(this.javaVersion))
+    }.get()
+    return this.workerExecutor.processIsolation { spec ->
+      spec.forkOptions { fork ->
+        fork.executable = javaLauncher.executablePath
       }
-    } else {
-      return this.workerExecutor.noIsolation()
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/MuzzlePlugin.groovy b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/MuzzlePlugin.groovy
index bd37653f056..701f49592c6 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/MuzzlePlugin.groovy
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/groovy/MuzzlePlugin.groovy
@@ -715,18 +715,14 @@ abstract class MuzzleTask extends DefaultTask {
                     Project instrumentationProject,
                     MuzzleDirective muzzleDirective = null) {
     def workQueue
-    String javaVersion = muzzleDirective?.javaVersion
-    if (javaVersion) {
-      def javaLauncher = javaToolchainService.launcherFor { spec ->
-        spec.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(javaVersion))
-      }.get()
-      workQueue = workerExecutor.processIsolation { spec ->
-        spec.forkOptions { fork ->
-          fork.executable = javaLauncher.executablePath
-        }
+    String javaVersion = muzzleDirective?.javaVersion ?: "8"
+    def javaLauncher = javaToolchainService.launcherFor { spec ->
+      spec.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(javaVersion))
+    }.get()
+    workQueue = workerExecutor.processIsolation { spec ->
+      spec.forkOptions { fork ->
+        fork.executable = javaLauncher.executablePath
       }
-    } else {
-      workQueue = workerExecutor.noIsolation()
     }
     workQueue.submit(MuzzleAction.class, parameters -> {
       parameters.buildStartedTime.set(invocationDetails.buildStartedTime)
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/agent-bootstrap/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/agent-bootstrap/build.gradle
index 47fcf1b0717..90e5c2fdc6b 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/agent-bootstrap/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/agent-bootstrap/build.gradle
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@ plugins {
   id 'me.champeau.jmh'
 }
 
-ext {
-  // need access to sun.* packages
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
-}
-
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/java.gradle"
 apply plugin: "idea"
 
+tasks.named("compileJava", JavaCompile).configure {
+  // need access to sun.* packages
+  setJavaVersion(it, 8)
+}
+
 // FIXME: Improve test coverage.
 minimumBranchCoverage = 0.0
 minimumInstructionCoverage = 0.0
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-ddprof/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-ddprof/build.gradle
index 225a953ba80..87f3ccb14eb 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-ddprof/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-ddprof/build.gradle
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ ext {
   // By default tests with be compiled for `minJavaVersionForTests` version,
   // but in this case we would like to avoid this since we would like to run with ZULU8
   skipSettingTestJavaVersion = true
-  // need access to jdk.jfr package
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
   excludeJdk = ['SEMERU11', 'SEMERU17']
 }
 
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-jfr/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-jfr/build.gradle
index 6075335d867..e392722760f 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-jfr/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-jfr/build.gradle
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@ ext {
   // of ByteBuffer.position(int) which is binary incompatible with Java 8 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
   minJavaVersionForTests = JavaVersion.VERSION_11
 
-  // need access to jdk.jfr package
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
-
   excludeJdk = ['SEMERU11', 'SEMERU17']
 }
 
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-jfr/implementation/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-jfr/implementation/build.gradle
index 6ccd08bc284..58b36579a43 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-jfr/implementation/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-jfr/implementation/build.gradle
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 // Set properties before any plugins get loaded
 ext {
   minJavaVersionForTests = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
-
-  // need access to jdk.jfr package
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
 }
 
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/java.gradle"
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-openjdk/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-openjdk/build.gradle
index 2d546b84c3e..a94efa1fcc1 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-openjdk/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-openjdk/build.gradle
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ ext {
   // By default tests with be compiled for `minJavaVersionForTests` version,
   // but in this case we would like to avoid this since we would like to run with ZULU8
   skipSettingTestJavaVersion = true
-  // need access to jdk.jfr package
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
 }
 
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/java.gradle"
@@ -39,6 +37,10 @@ dependencies {
 [JavaCompile, GroovyCompile].each {
   tasks.withType(it).configureEach {
     setJavaVersion(it, 11)
+    if (it instanceof JavaCompile) {
+      // need access to jdk.jfr package
+      options.release = null
+    }
     sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
     // Disable '-processing' because some annotations are not claimed.
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-oracle/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-oracle/build.gradle
index 5b9563daa55..c5ce13de46e 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-oracle/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/agent-profiling/profiling-controller-oracle/build.gradle
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ ext {
   // By default tests with be compiled for `minJavaVersionForTests` version,
   // but in this case we would like to avoid this since we would like to run with ORACLE8
   skipSettingTestJavaVersion = true
-  // need access to jdk.jfr package
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
 }
 
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/java.gradle"
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/java-concurrent/java-completablefuture/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/java-concurrent/java-completablefuture/build.gradle
index 3095b5712cf..ddbf68d8eed 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/java-concurrent/java-completablefuture/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/java-concurrent/java-completablefuture/build.gradle
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ muzzle {
   }
 }
 
-ext {
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
-}
 apply from: "${rootDir}/gradle/java.gradle"
 
 compileJava {
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/mule-4/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/mule-4/build.gradle
index d23901a824f..066bacee92e 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/mule-4/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/mule-4/build.gradle
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ tasks.register('extractLatestMuleServices', Sync) {
 // build the mule application via maven
 tasks.register('mvnPackage', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   commandLine "$rootDir/mvnw", "-Ddatadog.builddir=$buildDir", "-Ddatadog.name=mule-test-application", "-Ddatadog.version=$version", 'package'
   outputs.dir("$buildDir/target")
   inputs.dir("$appDir/src")
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/rmi/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/rmi/build.gradle
index 55ef269020b..e62fd3dcced 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/rmi/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/instrumentation/rmi/build.gradle
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 ext {
-  // need access to sun.rmi package
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
   // TODO Java 17: The necessary packages are not opened on Java 17
   maxJavaVersionForTests = JavaVersion.VERSION_15
 }
@@ -13,6 +11,11 @@ muzzle {
 
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/java.gradle"
 
+tasks.withType(JavaCompile).configureEach {
+  // need access to sun.rmi package
+  setJavaVersion(it, 8)
+}
+
 def rmic = tasks.register('rmic', Exec) {
   dependsOn testClasses
 
diff --git a/dd-java-agent/testing/build.gradle b/dd-java-agent/testing/build.gradle
index df2430f9433..132799892e1 100644
--- a/dd-java-agent/testing/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-java-agent/testing/build.gradle
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ plugins {
   id 'com.gradleup.shadow'
 }
 
-ext {
+apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/java.gradle"
+
+tasks.withType(JavaCompile).configureEach {
   // need access to sun.misc package
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
+  setJavaVersion(it, 8)
 }
 
-apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/java.gradle"
-
 minimumBranchCoverage = 0.5
 minimumInstructionCoverage = 0.5
 excludedClassesCoverage += [
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/quarkus/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/quarkus/build.gradle
index b93f55ac268..239782e50cd 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/quarkus/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/quarkus/build.gradle
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ def gradlewCommand = isWindows ? 'gradlew.bat' : 'gradlew'
 // define the task that builds the quarkus project
 tasks.register('quarkusBuild', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   environment += ["GRADLE_OPTS": "-Dorg.gradle.jvmargs='-Xmx512M'"]
   commandLine "${rootDir}/${gradlewCommand}", "build", "--no-daemon", "--max-workers=4", "-PappBuildDir=$appBuildDir", "-PapiJar=${project(':dd-trace-api').tasks.jar.archiveFile.get()}"
 
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/spring-boot-2.7-webflux/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/spring-boot-2.7-webflux/build.gradle
index 97d01b18b90..1ac0117a3ec 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/spring-boot-2.7-webflux/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/spring-boot-2.7-webflux/build.gradle
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def gradlewCommand = isWindows ? 'gradlew.bat' : 'gradlew'
 // define the task that builds the quarkus project
 tasks.register('webfluxBuild', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   environment += ["GRADLE_OPTS": "-Dorg.gradle.jvmargs='-Xmx512M'"]
   commandLine "$rootDir/${gradlewCommand}", "bootJar", "--no-daemon", "--max-workers=4", "-PappBuildDir=$appBuildDir", "-PapiJar=${project(':dd-trace-api').tasks.jar.archiveFile.get()}"
 
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/springboot-openliberty-20/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/springboot-openliberty-20/build.gradle
index 6716a0ffe46..3ddaadffa54 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/springboot-openliberty-20/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/springboot-openliberty-20/build.gradle
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def mvnwCommand = isWindows ? 'mvnw.cmd' : 'mvnw'
 // compile the Open liberty spring boot server
 tasks.register('mvnStage', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   commandLine "$rootDir/${mvnwCommand}", 'package', "-Dtarget.dir=${buildDir}/application/target"
   inputs.dir "$appDir/src"
   inputs.file "$appDir/pom.xml"
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/springboot-openliberty-23/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/springboot-openliberty-23/build.gradle
index e0cbfe891ba..73ff5ac5abf 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/springboot-openliberty-23/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/springboot-openliberty-23/build.gradle
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def mvnwCommand = isWindows ? 'mvnw.cmd' : 'mvnw'
 // compile the Open liberty spring boot server
 tasks.register('mvnStage', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   commandLine "$rootDir/${mvnwCommand}", 'package', "-Dtarget.dir=${buildDir}/application/target"
   inputs.dir "$appDir/src"
   inputs.file "$appDir/pom.xml"
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.4/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.4/build.gradle
index 2ee69edf538..5a8106730dc 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.4/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.4/build.gradle
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ def gradlewCommand = isWindows ? 'gradlew.bat' : 'gradlew'
 // define the task that builds the quarkus project
 tasks.register('vertxBuild', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   environment += ["GRADLE_OPTS": "-Dorg.gradle.jvmargs='-Xmx512M'"]
   commandLine "$appDir/${gradlewCommand}", "assemble", "--no-daemon", "--max-workers=4", "-PappBuildDir=$appBuildDir", "-PapiJar=${project(':dd-trace-api').tasks.jar.archiveFile.get()}"
 
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.9-resteasy/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.9-resteasy/build.gradle
index 718d07745e8..dfd0fb8c06d 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.9-resteasy/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.9-resteasy/build.gradle
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def gradlewCommand = isWindows ? 'gradlew.bat' : 'gradlew'
 // define the task that builds the quarkus project
 tasks.register('vertxBuild', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   environment += ["GRADLE_OPTS": "-Dorg.gradle.jvmargs='-Xmx512M'"]
   commandLine "$appDir/${gradlewCommand}", "assemble", "--no-daemon", "--max-workers=4", "-PappBuildDir=$appBuildDir", "-PapiJar=${project(':dd-trace-api').tasks.jar.archiveFile.get()}"
 
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.9/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.9/build.gradle
index 70161bba855..62aff6b98a4 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.9/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-3.9/build.gradle
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ def gradlewCommand = isWindows ? 'gradlew.bat' : 'gradlew'
 // define the task that builds the quarkus project
 tasks.register('vertxBuild', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   environment += ["GRADLE_OPTS": "-Dorg.gradle.jvmargs='-Xmx512M'"]
   commandLine "$appDir/${gradlewCommand}", "assemble", "--no-daemon", "--max-workers=4", "-PappBuildDir=$appBuildDir", "-PapiJar=${project(':dd-trace-api').tasks.jar.archiveFile.get()}"
 
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-4.2/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-4.2/build.gradle
index c5f54819823..5e4580b6bd6 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-4.2/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/vertx-4.2/build.gradle
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ def gradlewCommand = isWindows ? 'gradlew.bat' : 'gradlew'
 // define the task that builds the quarkus project
 tasks.register('vertxBuild', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   environment += ["GRADLE_OPTS": "-Dorg.gradle.jvmargs='-Xmx512M'"]
   commandLine "$appDir/${gradlewCommand}", "assemble", "--no-daemon", "--max-workers=4", "-PappBuildDir=$appBuildDir", "-PapiJar=${project(':dd-trace-api').tasks.jar.archiveFile.get()}"
 
diff --git a/dd-smoke-tests/wildfly/build.gradle b/dd-smoke-tests/wildfly/build.gradle
index d10e2ed4e73..b351d8e086f 100644
--- a/dd-smoke-tests/wildfly/build.gradle
+++ b/dd-smoke-tests/wildfly/build.gradle
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def gradlewCommand = isWindows ? 'gradlew.bat' : 'gradlew'
 // define the task that builds the quarkus project
 tasks.register('earBuild', Exec) {
   workingDir "$appDir"
+  environment.JAVA_HOME = System.getenv("JAVA_8_HOME")
   environment += ["GRADLE_OPTS": "-Dorg.gradle.jvmargs='-Xmx512M'"]
   commandLine "$rootDir/${gradlewCommand}", "assemble", "--no-daemon", "--max-workers=4", "-PappBuildDir=$appBuildDir", "-PapiJar=${project(':dd-trace-api').tasks.jar.archiveFile.get()}"
 
diff --git a/gradle/java_no_deps.gradle b/gradle/java_no_deps.gradle
index e1e9e39f3d8..8af23d322c4 100644
--- a/gradle/java_no_deps.gradle
+++ b/gradle/java_no_deps.gradle
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@ import org.gradle.jvm.toolchain.internal.SpecificInstallationToolchainSpec
 
 apply plugin: 'java-library'
 
+sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+
+java {
+  toolchain {
+    languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(8)
+  }
+}
+
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/codenarc.gradle"
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/forbiddenapis.gradle"
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/spotless.gradle"
@@ -34,17 +43,6 @@ if (applyCodeCoverage) {
   apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/jacoco.gradle"
 }
 
-sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
-targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
-
-// when building with Java 9+, lazily set compiler --release flag to match target
-def skipSettingCompilerRelease = project.findProperty('skipSettingCompilerRelease')
-if (!skipSettingCompilerRelease && JavaVersion.current().isJava9Compatible()) {
-  compileJava.options.release = project.provider {
-    JavaVersion.toVersion(targetCompatibility).majorVersion as Integer
-  }
-}
-
 if (project.hasProperty('minJavaVersionForTests') && project.getProperty('minJavaVersionForTests') != JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7) {
   def version = JavaVersion.toVersion(project.getProperty('minJavaVersionForTests'))
   def name = "java$version.majorVersion"
diff --git a/internal-api/build.gradle b/internal-api/build.gradle
index fbf1916a4af..6b39f73568b 100644
--- a/internal-api/build.gradle
+++ b/internal-api/build.gradle
@@ -2,22 +2,11 @@ plugins {
   id 'me.champeau.jmh'
 }
 
-ext {
-  // need access to sun.misc.SharedSecrets
-  skipSettingCompilerRelease = true
-}
-
-// sun.misc.SharedSecrets is gone in later versions
-compileJava {
-  javaCompiler = javaToolchains.compilerFor {
-    languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(8)
-  }
-}
-
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/java.gradle"
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/tries.gradle"
 
-tasks.compileTestJava.configure {
+tasks.withType(JavaCompile).configureEach {
+  // need access to sun.misc.SharedSecrets
   setJavaVersion(it, 8)
 }