diff --git a/spring-boot-starters/spring-boot-starter-parent/pom.xml b/spring-boot-starters/spring-boot-starter-parent/pom.xml
index 1eb13d4a96..7d2f3ce11e 100644
--- a/spring-boot-starters/spring-boot-starter-parent/pom.xml
+++ b/spring-boot-starters/spring-boot-starter-parent/pom.xml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 		<url>http://www.spring.io</url>
 	</organization>
 	<properties>
-		<java.version>1.6</java.version>
+		<java.version>1.8</java.version>
 		<resource.delimiter>@</resource.delimiter> <!-- delimiter that doesn't clash with Spring ${} placeholders -->
 		<project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
 		<project.reporting.outputEncoding>UTF-8</project.reporting.outputEncoding>