diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8efecbb0..edb0106b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ jetcd is the official java client for [etcd](https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd) v3
 
 ## Java Versions
 
-Java 8 or above is required.
+Java 11 or above is required.
 
 ## Download
 
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 50794e25..ba5dfe7e 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ subprojects {
     }
 
     compileJava {
-        options.release = 8
+        options.release = 11
     }
 
     test {
diff --git a/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index 1ef1dbb5..46108c16 100644
--- a/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ errorprone = "2.24.1"
 vertx = "4.5.1"
 picocli = "4.7.5"
 restAssured = "5.4.0"
+javaxAnnotation = "1.3.2"
 
 versionsPlugin = "0.50.0"
 errorPronePlugin = "3.1.0"
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ nexusPublishPlugin = "1.3.0"
 axionReleasePlugin = "1.16.1"
 testRetryPlugin = "1.5.8"
 
+
 [libraries]
 slf4j = { module = "org.slf4j:slf4j-api", version.ref = "slf4j" }
 guava = { module = "com.google.guava:guava", version.ref = "guava" }
@@ -64,13 +66,14 @@ log4j12 = { module = "org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-1.2-api", version.ref = "lo
 autoServiceAnnotations = { module = "com.google.auto.service:auto-service-annotations", version.ref = "autoService"}
 autoServiceProcessor = { module = "com.google.auto.service:auto-service", version.ref = "autoService"}
 
+javaxAnnotation = { module = "javax.annotation:javax.annotation-api", version.ref = "javaxAnnotation" }
 
 errorprone = { module = "com.google.errorprone:error_prone_core", version.ref = "errorprone" }
 errorproneAnnotations = { module = "com.google.errorprone:error_prone_annotations", version.ref = "errorprone" }
 errorproneJavac = { module = "com.google.errorprone:javac", version = "9+" }
 
 [bundles]
-grpc     = [ "grpcCore", "grpcNetty", "grpcProtobuf", "grpcStub", "grpcGrpclb", "grpcUtil"]
+grpc     = [ "grpcCore", "grpcNetty", "grpcProtobuf", "grpcStub", "grpcGrpclb", "grpcUtil", "javaxAnnotation"]
 grpcTest = [ "grpcInprocess"]
 log4j    = [ "log4jApi", "log4jCore", "log4jSlf4j", "log4j12" ]
 mockito  = [ "mockitoCore", "mockitoJunit" ]