diff --git a/instrumentation/kafka/kafka-clients/kafka-clients-0.11/javaagent/build.gradle.kts b/instrumentation/kafka/kafka-clients/kafka-clients-0.11/javaagent/build.gradle.kts
index 60fc215f6697..84fc9831d8a7 100644
--- a/instrumentation/kafka/kafka-clients/kafka-clients-0.11/javaagent/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/instrumentation/kafka/kafka-clients/kafka-clients-0.11/javaagent/build.gradle.kts
@@ -66,3 +66,12 @@ tasks {
     dependsOn(testPropagationDisabled, testReceiveSpansDisabled)
   }
 }
+
+val latestDepTest = findProperty("testLatestDeps") as Boolean
+
+// kafka 4.1 requires java 11
+if (latestDepTest) {
+  otelJava {
+    minJavaVersionSupported.set(JavaVersion.VERSION_11)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/instrumentation/kafka/kafka-clients/kafka-clients-2.6/library/build.gradle.kts b/instrumentation/kafka/kafka-clients/kafka-clients-2.6/library/build.gradle.kts
index df75c599d257..b23528d55646 100644
--- a/instrumentation/kafka/kafka-clients/kafka-clients-2.6/library/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/instrumentation/kafka/kafka-clients/kafka-clients-2.6/library/build.gradle.kts
@@ -45,3 +45,12 @@ tasks {
     dependsOn(testReceiveSpansDisabled)
   }
 }
+
+val latestDepTest = findProperty("testLatestDeps") as Boolean
+
+// kafka 4.1 requires java 11
+if (latestDepTest) {
+  otelJava {
+    minJavaVersionSupported.set(JavaVersion.VERSION_11)
+  }
+}