diff --git a/src/org/rascalmpl/interpreter/utils/JavaBridge.java b/src/org/rascalmpl/interpreter/utils/JavaBridge.java
index 5fd0e0c6946..201703578f1 100644
--- a/src/org/rascalmpl/interpreter/utils/JavaBridge.java
+++ b/src/org/rascalmpl/interpreter/utils/JavaBridge.java
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ public void compileJava(ISourceLocation loc, String className, String source, Ou
 	public <T> Class<T> compileJava(ISourceLocation loc, String className, Class<?> parent, String source) {
 		try {
 			// watch out, if you start sharing this compiler, classes will not be able to reload
-			List<String> commandline = Arrays.asList(new String[] {"-proc:none", "-cp", config.getRascalJavaClassPathProperty()});
+			List<String> commandline = Arrays.asList(new String[] {"-proc:none", "--release", "11", "-cp", config.getRascalJavaClassPathProperty()});
 			JavaCompiler<T> javaCompiler = new JavaCompiler<T>(parent.getClassLoader(), null, commandline);
 			Class<T> result = javaCompiler.compile(className, source, null, Object.class);
 			return result;