diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index e02e83d0858..485f3ce2d05 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ build --java_runtime_version=remotejdk_18
 build --tool_java_runtime_version=remotejdk_18
 
 # Default source/target versions.
-build --javacopt="-source 8 -target 8"
+build --javacopt="--release 8"
 
 # Workaround for https://openjdk.java.net/jeps/411.
 # See https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/issues/14502#issuecomment-1018366245.
diff --git a/build_defs.bzl b/build_defs.bzl
index 3dd0647ca89..6f56ff44512 100644
--- a/build_defs.bzl
+++ b/build_defs.bzl
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@ DOCLINT_HTML_AND_SYNTAX = ["-Xdoclint:html,syntax"]
 
 DOCLINT_REFERENCES = ["-Xdoclint:reference"]
 
-JAVA_RELEASE_MIN = ["-source 8 -target 8"]
+JAVA_RELEASE_MIN = ["--release 8"]
 
 POM_VERSION = "${project.version}"