diff --git a/maven-plugin-plugin/src/it/java-basic-annotations/verify.groovy b/maven-plugin-plugin/src/it/java-basic-annotations/verify.groovy
index b3f34ed83..51ba67d4b 100644
--- a/maven-plugin-plugin/src/it/java-basic-annotations/verify.groovy
+++ b/maven-plugin-plugin/src/it/java-basic-annotations/verify.groovy
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ assert descriptorFile.isFile()
 
 def pluginDescriptor = new XmlParser().parse( descriptorFile );
 
-assert pluginDescriptor.requiredJavaVersion.text() == '1.8'
+assert pluginDescriptor.requiredJavaVersion.text() == '[1.8,)'
 assert pluginDescriptor.requiredMavenVersion.text() == '3.2.5'
 
 def mojo = pluginDescriptor.mojos.mojo.findAll{ it.goal.text() == "first" }[0]
diff --git a/maven-plugin-plugin/src/it/v4api/verify.groovy b/maven-plugin-plugin/src/it/v4api/verify.groovy
index c3c4967cb..8d147efa3 100644
--- a/maven-plugin-plugin/src/it/v4api/verify.groovy
+++ b/maven-plugin-plugin/src/it/v4api/verify.groovy
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ assert descriptorFile.isFile()
 
 def pluginDescriptor = new XmlParser().parse( descriptorFile );
 
-assert pluginDescriptor.requiredJavaVersion.text() == '1.8'
+assert pluginDescriptor.requiredJavaVersion.text() == '[1.8,)'
 assert pluginDescriptor.requiredMavenVersion.text() == '4.0.0-alpha-2'
 
 def mojo = pluginDescriptor.mojos.mojo.findAll{ it.goal.text() == "first" }[0]
diff --git a/maven-plugin-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/plugin/DescriptorGeneratorMojo.java b/maven-plugin-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/plugin/DescriptorGeneratorMojo.java
index b50d86704..1696335a9 100644
--- a/maven-plugin-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/plugin/DescriptorGeneratorMojo.java
+++ b/maven-plugin-plugin/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/plugin/plugin/DescriptorGeneratorMojo.java
@@ -448,14 +448,15 @@ private String getRequiredJavaVersion( PluginToolsRequest request )
         {
             return requiredJavaVersion;
         }
-        String requiredJavaVersion = request.getRequiredJavaVersion();
-        if ( requiredJavaVersion == null )
+        String minRequiredJavaVersion = request.getRequiredJavaVersion();
+        if ( minRequiredJavaVersion == null )
         {
-            getLog().warn( "Cannot determine the required Java version automatically, it is recommended to "
+            getLog().warn( "Cannot determine the minimally required Java version automatically, it is recommended to "
                             + "configure some explicit value manually." );
+            return null;
         }
         
-        return requiredJavaVersion;
+        return "[" + minRequiredJavaVersion + ",)";
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/maven-plugin-tools-api/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/tools/plugin/PluginToolsRequest.java b/maven-plugin-tools-api/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/tools/plugin/PluginToolsRequest.java
index a0721e80a..a014ad3c7 100644
--- a/maven-plugin-tools-api/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/tools/plugin/PluginToolsRequest.java
+++ b/maven-plugin-tools-api/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/tools/plugin/PluginToolsRequest.java
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ public interface PluginToolsRequest
     
     /**
      * 
-     * @param requiredJavaVersion the required java version for this plugin or {@code null} if unknown.
+     * @param requiredJavaVersion the minimally required java version for this plugin or {@code null} if unknown.
      * @return This request.
      * @since 3.8.0
      */
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ public interface PluginToolsRequest
 
     /**
      * 
-     * @return the required java version for this plugin or {@code null} if unknown.
+     * @return the minimally required java version for this plugin or {@code null} if unknown.
      * @since 3.8.0
      */
     String getRequiredJavaVersion();