diff --git a/smoke-tests/images/spring-boot/build.gradle.kts b/smoke-tests/images/spring-boot/build.gradle.kts
index b29f50e01240..1f66078ef1a2 100644
--- a/smoke-tests/images/spring-boot/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/smoke-tests/images/spring-boot/build.gradle.kts
@@ -17,10 +17,6 @@ dependencies {
   implementation("org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-web")
 }
 
-otelJava {
-  minJavaVersionSupported = JavaVersion.VERSION_17
-}
-
 configurations.runtimeClasspath {
   resolutionStrategy {
     // requires old logback (and therefore also old slf4j)
@@ -34,6 +30,16 @@ val targetJDK = project.findProperty("targetJDK") ?: "17"
 val tag = findProperty("tag")
   ?: DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("yyyyMMdd.HHmmSS").format(LocalDateTime.now())
 
+java {
+  // Jib detects the Java version from sourceCompatibility to determine the entrypoint format.
+  // Java 8 doesn't support the @argfile syntax (added in Java 9), so Jib needs to know
+  // to use an expanded classpath format instead (e.g., /app/classes:/app/libs/*).
+  if (targetJDK == "8") {
+    sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+    targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
+  }
+}
+
 springBoot {
   buildInfo {
   }