diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 02b70b0..c2bf30e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Set up Java
       uses: actions/setup-java@v1
       with:
-        java-version: 20
+        java-version: 21
     - name: Build with Maven
       run: mvn -B -DskipTests -ntp install
     - name: Login to Docker Hub
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 5624d57..6b064df 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@
         </license>
     </licenses>
     <properties>
-        <piranha.distribution>webprofile</piranha.distribution>
         <piranha.version>23.8.0</piranha.version>
+        <!-- other -->
+        <java.version>21</java.version>
+        <piranha.distribution>webprofile</piranha.distribution>
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
         <!-- plugins -->
         <docker-maven-plugin.version>0.42.1</docker-maven-plugin.version>
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@
                 <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
                 <version>${maven-compiler-plugin.version}</version>
                 <configuration>
-                    <release>20</release>
+                    <release>${java.version}</release>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
             <plugin>