diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-publish.yaml b/.github/workflows/build-and-publish.yaml
index 7440b17..d05d07b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-publish.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-publish.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ jobs:
   build-and-publish:
     name: Java Gradle
     uses: bakdata/ci-templates/.github/workflows/java-gradle-library.yaml@1.40.5
+    with:
+      java-version: 17
     secrets:
       sonar-token: ${{ secrets.SONARCLOUD_TOKEN }}
       sonar-organization: ${{ secrets.SONARCLOUD_ORGANIZATION }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 7ee0f6c..b139422 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Java Gradle
     uses: bakdata/ci-templates/.github/workflows/java-gradle-release.yaml@1.40.5
     with:
+      java-version: 17
       release-type: "${{ inputs.release-type }}"
     secrets:
       github-email: "${{ secrets.GH_EMAIL }}"