diff --git a/jaxb-ri/codemodel/pom.xml b/jaxb-ri/codemodel/pom.xml
index 73ef0579e..31c6ddd5f 100644
--- a/jaxb-ri/codemodel/pom.xml
+++ b/jaxb-ri/codemodel/pom.xml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
         <spotbugs.version>3.1.12.2</spotbugs.version>
 
         <upper.java.level>9</upper.java.level>
-        <base.java.level>1.7</base.java.level>
+        <base.java.level>7</base.java.level>
     </properties>
 
     <modules>
diff --git a/jaxb-ri/external/pom.xml b/jaxb-ri/external/pom.xml
index 3de0fc4ba..6d641feb4 100644
--- a/jaxb-ri/external/pom.xml
+++ b/jaxb-ri/external/pom.xml
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
         <spotbugs.version>3.1.12.2</spotbugs.version>
 
         <upper.java.level>9</upper.java.level>
-        <base.java.level>1.7</base.java.level>
+        <base.java.level>7</base.java.level>
     </properties>
 
     <modules>