diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 1a3a3b4accdfb..978d2fefee794 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ tasks.register("verifyVersions") {
  * after the backport of the backcompat code is complete.
  */
 
-boolean bwc_tests_enabled = false
+boolean bwc_tests_enabled = true
 // place a PR link here when committing bwc changes:
-String bwc_tests_disabled_issue = "https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/pull/81900"
+String bwc_tests_disabled_issue = ""
 /*
  * FIPS 140-2 behavior was fixed in 7.11.0. Before that there is no way to run elasticsearch in a
  * JVM that is properly configured to be in fips mode with BCFIPS. For now we need to disable
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/Version.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/Version.java
index b35530451f19c..813dc18d5b64e 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/Version.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/Version.java
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ public class Version implements Comparable<Version>, ToXContentFragment {
      * The unreleased last minor is the current major with a upped minor: 7._4_.0
      * The unreleased revision is the very release with a upped revision 7.3._1_
      */
+    private static final org.apache.lucene.util.Version LUCENE_8_11_1 = org.apache.lucene.util.Version.fromBits(8, 11, 1);
+
     public static final int V_EMPTY_ID = 0;
     public static final Version V_EMPTY = new Version(V_EMPTY_ID, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LATEST);
     public static final Version V_7_0_0 = new Version(7000099, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_8_0_0);
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ public class Version implements Comparable<Version>, ToXContentFragment {
     public static final Version V_7_16_1 = new Version(7160199, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_8_10_1);
     public static final Version V_7_16_2 = new Version(7160299, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_8_10_1);
     public static final Version V_7_16_3 = new Version(7160399, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_8_10_1);
-    public static final Version V_7_17_0 = new Version(7170099, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_8_10_1);
+    public static final Version V_7_17_0 = new Version(7170099, LUCENE_8_11_1);
     public static final Version V_8_0_0 = new Version(8000099, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_9_0_0);
     public static final Version V_8_1_0 = new Version(8010099, org.apache.lucene.util.Version.LUCENE_9_0_0);
     public static final Version CURRENT = V_8_1_0;