diff --git a/.github/workflows/gradle.yml b/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
index 4cdc4dc3f55..169aef806ca 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        java: ['8', '11', '14']
+        java: ['11', '14']
     env:
       WORKSPACE: ${{ github.workspace }}
       GRADLE_OPTS: -Xmx1500m -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 35c8fe8bbc3..454b03832a3 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -419,8 +419,8 @@ subprojects { project ->
     if(project.name == 'grails-dependencies') return
     if(project.name == 'grails-bom') return
 
-    sourceCompatibility = "1.8"
-    targetCompatibility = "1.8"
+    sourceCompatibility = "1.11"
+    targetCompatibility = "1.11"
 
     if(project.name =~ /^(grails-web|grails-plugin-|grails-test-suite|grails-test)/) {
         dependencies {
diff --git a/grails-bootstrap/src/main/groovy/org/grails/io/support/MainClassFinder.groovy b/grails-bootstrap/src/main/groovy/org/grails/io/support/MainClassFinder.groovy
index 4bd1fc8af2f..471df72e701 100644
--- a/grails-bootstrap/src/main/groovy/org/grails/io/support/MainClassFinder.groovy
+++ b/grails-bootstrap/src/main/groovy/org/grails/io/support/MainClassFinder.groovy
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ class MainClassFinder {
         boolean found = false
 
         MainMethodFinder() {
-            super(Opcodes.ASM4)
+            super(Opcodes.ASM7)
         }
 
         @Override
diff --git a/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/compiler/injection/GrailsAwareInjectionOperation.java b/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/compiler/injection/GrailsAwareInjectionOperation.java
index af373cb0d84..dae4bdd8d9e 100644
--- a/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/compiler/injection/GrailsAwareInjectionOperation.java
+++ b/grails-core/src/main/groovy/org/grails/compiler/injection/GrailsAwareInjectionOperation.java
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ private static void initializeState() {
                     final ClassReader classReader = new ClassReader(inputStream);
                     final String astTransformerClassName = AstTransformer.class.getSimpleName();
                     final ClassLoader finalClassLoader = classLoader;
-                    classReader.accept(new ClassVisitor(Opcodes.ASM4) {
+                    classReader.accept(new ClassVisitor(Opcodes.ASM7) {
                         @Override
                         public AnnotationVisitor visitAnnotation(String desc, boolean visible) {
                             try {