diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-main-branches.yml b/.github/workflows/build-main-branches.yml
index ee392d2f0b..d1a737bfea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-main-branches.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-main-branches.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ jobs:
                 java: [
                     {'version': '8'},
                     {'version': '11'},
+                    {
+                        'version': '11',
+                        'build_opts': '-Dkafka-container-version=latest-kafka-2.8.0 -pl smallrye-reactive-messaging-kafka --also-make',
+                        'name': 'Kafka tests against Kafka Broker 2.8.0'
+                    },
                     {
                         'version': '16',
                         'opts': '--illegal-access=permit' # required for kotlin
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-pull.yml b/.github/workflows/build-pull.yml
index 4b1983f767..6bbb08f8ca 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-pull.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-pull.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ jobs:
                 java: [
                     {'version': '8'},
                     {'version': '11'},
+                    {
+                        'version': '11',
+                        'build_opts': '-Dkafka-container-version=latest-kafka-2.8.0 -pl smallrye-reactive-messaging-kafka --also-make',
+                        'name': 'Kafka tests against Kafka Broker 2.8.0'
+                    },
                     {
                         'version': '16',
                         'opts': '--illegal-access=permit' # required for kotlin