diff --git a/proxies/velocity/build.gradle.kts b/proxies/velocity/build.gradle.kts
index 81ac09b..b422ab9 100644
--- a/proxies/velocity/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/proxies/velocity/build.gradle.kts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ tasks {
     }
     compileJava {
         options.encoding = Charsets.UTF_8.name()
-        options.release.set(17)
+        options.release.set(21) // required by velocity
     }
     processResources {
         filteringCharset = Charsets.UTF_8.name()
diff --git a/proxies/velocity/velocity-api/build.gradle.kts b/proxies/velocity/velocity-api/build.gradle.kts
index f432c44..46dd2fb 100644
--- a/proxies/velocity/velocity-api/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/proxies/velocity/velocity-api/build.gradle.kts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ tasks {
     }
     compileJava {
         options.encoding = Charsets.UTF_8.name()
-        options.release.set(17)
+        options.release.set(21) // required by velocity
     }
     javadoc {
         options.encoding = Charsets.UTF_8.name()