diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 67dbdadd9..e5ac3ca26 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@
    </repositories>
 
    <properties>
+      <java.version>1.8</java.version>
+   
       <spring.boot.version>1.2.8.RELEASE</spring.boot.version>
 
       <!-- Spring boot version overrides (should be reviewed with every boot upgrade) - START -->
@@ -102,8 +104,6 @@
       <json.version>20141113</json.version>
       <rsql-parser.version>2.0.0</rsql-parser.version>
       <!-- Misc libraries versions - END -->
-      
-      <java.version>1.8</java.version>
 
       <!-- Release - START -->
       <release.scm.connection>scm:git:https://github.com/eclipse/hawkbit.git</release.scm.connection>