diff --git a/dependencyManagement/build.gradle.kts b/dependencyManagement/build.gradle.kts
index d8cc0188b..8c7dc88a6 100644
--- a/dependencyManagement/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/dependencyManagement/build.gradle.kts
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ dependencies {
     api("org.bouncycastle:bcpkix-jdk15on:1.70")
     api("org.junit-pioneer:junit-pioneer:1.9.1")
     api("org.skyscreamer:jsonassert:1.5.3")
-    api("org.apache.kafka:kafka-clients:3.9.0")
+    api("org.apache.kafka:kafka-clients:4.0.0")
     api("org.testcontainers:kafka:1.21.0")
     api("com.lmax:disruptor:3.4.4")
     api("org.jctools:jctools-core:4.0.5")
diff --git a/kafka-exporter/build.gradle.kts b/kafka-exporter/build.gradle.kts
index ad18818fe..46b1e1ebf 100644
--- a/kafka-exporter/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/kafka-exporter/build.gradle.kts
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 description = "SpanExporter based on Kafka"
-otelJava.moduleName.set("io.opentelemetry.contrib.kafka")
+
+otelJava {
+  moduleName.set("io.opentelemetry.contrib.kafka")
+  // kafka 4 requires java 11
+  minJavaVersionSupported.set(JavaVersion.VERSION_11)
+}
 
 dependencies {
   api("io.opentelemetry:opentelemetry-sdk-trace")