diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 52b8b4a..3945912 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -31,16 +31,7 @@ jobs:
           java-version: '11'
           distribution: 'microsoft'
 
-      - name: set JDK_11 environment variable test compiling and running
-        env:
-          ACTIONS_ALLOW_UNSECURE_COMMANDS: true
-        run: echo ::set-env name=JDK_11::$(echo $JAVA_HOME)
 
-      - name: Set up JDK 8
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v2
-        with:
-          java-version: '8'
-          distribution: 'temurin'
 
       - name: Setup Gradle
         uses: gradle/gradle-build-action@v2
@@ -61,7 +52,6 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Run Unit Tests with Gradle
         run: |
-          export JAVA_HOME=$JDK_11
           ./gradlew clean test || echo "UNIT_TEST_FAILED=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         continue-on-error: true
 
diff --git a/endtoendtests/build.gradle b/endtoendtests/build.gradle
index 64ced91..363bef5 100644
--- a/endtoendtests/build.gradle
+++ b/endtoendtests/build.gradle
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ azurefunctions {
     region = 'westus'
     runtime {
         os = 'Windows'
-        javaVersion = 'Java 8'
+        javaVersion = 'Java 11'
     }
     auth {
         type = 'azure_cli'
diff --git a/samples-azure-functions/build.gradle b/samples-azure-functions/build.gradle
index 5d20818..721c7ae 100644
--- a/samples-azure-functions/build.gradle
+++ b/samples-azure-functions/build.gradle
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ azurefunctions {
     region = 'westus'
     runtime {
         os = 'Windows'
-        javaVersion = 'Java 8'
+        javaVersion = 'Java 11'
     }
     auth {
         type = 'azure_cli'