diff --git a/java-core/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/java-core/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index d510359d97..e23d923e1e 100644
--- a/java-core/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/java-core/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ jobs:
         java: [8, 11]
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
+      with:
+        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v1
       with:
         java-version: ${{matrix.java}}
@@ -37,6 +40,9 @@ jobs:
         java: [8, 11]
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
+      with:
+        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v1
       with:
         java-version: ${{matrix.java}}
@@ -46,6 +52,9 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
+      with:
+        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v1
       with:
         java-version: 8
@@ -57,10 +66,13 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
+      with:
+        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v1
       with:
         java-version: 8
     - run: java -version
     - run: .kokoro/build.sh
       env:
-        JOB_TYPE: clirr
+        JOB_TYPE: clirr
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/java-core/synth.metadata b/java-core/synth.metadata
index 73b2aaa8a3..a0e973c56a 100644
--- a/java-core/synth.metadata
+++ b/java-core/synth.metadata
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@
       "git": {
         "name": ".",
         "remote": "https://github.com/googleapis/java-core.git",
-        "sha": "ee82eaed6ae4d877ecc865b8c32de2577ffcbcbc"
+        "sha": "3c4f4797f43b9a26710b53769ed0a98384e0fb61"
       }
     },
     {
       "git": {
         "name": "synthtool",
         "remote": "https://github.com/googleapis/synthtool.git",
-        "sha": "9a238a0623879c3de129a376c6085d4a862f6eb9"
+        "sha": "ad7fd76e17bf9494a3e47ff9cf445f61564432e0"
       }
     }
   ],