diff --git a/jython.changes b/jython.changes
index 203e1ee..534a348 100644
--- a/jython.changes
+++ b/jython.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Mon Dec 18 12:27:08 UTC 2017 - fstrba@suse.com
+
+- Require java 8 or higher to build.
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mon Sep 18 12:50:14 UTC 2017 - fstrba@suse.com
 
diff --git a/jython.spec b/jython.spec
index d250104..37bbddc 100644
--- a/jython.spec
+++ b/jython.spec
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ Requires:       libreadline-java >= 0.8.0
 Requires:       python >= %{cpython_version}
 Requires:       servletapi5
 Recommends:     mysql-connector-java
-Requires:       java >= 1.6.0
+Requires:       java >= 1.8
 BuildRequires:  ant
 BuildRequires:  jakarta-oro
-BuildRequires:  java-devel >= 1.6.0
+BuildRequires:  java-devel >= 1.8
 BuildRequires:  jline
 BuildRequires:  libreadline-java >= 0.8.0
 BuildRequires:  mysql-connector-java