diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
index 8542245..6179cfa 100644
--- a/build.xml
+++ b/build.xml
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 
 <property name="file" value=""/>
 
-	<property name="ant.build.javac.target" value="1.6" />
-	<property name="ant.build.javac.source" value="1.6" />
+	<property name="ant.build.javac.target" value="1.8" />
+	<property name="ant.build.javac.source" value="1.8" />
 	<property name="version" value="2.1.1"/>
 	<property name="deprecation" value="on"/>
 	<property name="Specification-Title" value="BeanShell" />
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@
 			debug="on"
 			includes="**/*.java"
 			excludes="${excludes},**/bak/**"
-			source="1.6"
-			target="1.6"
+			source="1.8"
+			target="1.8"
 		>
 			<classpath>
 				<fileset refid="lib-fileset"/>
@@ -213,8 +213,8 @@
 			debug="on"
 			includes="**/*.java"
 			excludes="${excludes},**/bak/**"
-			source="1.6"
-			target="1.6"
+			source="1.8"
+			target="1.8"
 		>
 			<classpath>
 				<fileset refid="lib-fileset"/>
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
 			 destdir="${javadoc-dir}"
 			 author="true"
 			 version="true"
-			 source="1.6"
+			 source="1.8"
 			 use="true"
 			 windowtitle="BeanShell ${version}"
 			 doctitle="&lt;h1&gt;BeanShell ${version}&lt;h1&gt;"
@@ -680,8 +680,8 @@
 				destdir="${build-dir}"
 				debug="on"
 				debuglevel="lines,vars,source"
-				source="1.6"
-				target="1.6"
+				source="1.8"
+				target="1.8"
 			  >
 		 <classpath>
 			<path refid="test-classpath"/>