diff --git a/synthtool/gcp/templates/java_library/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/synthtool/gcp/templates/java_library/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 25c1ec5a7..fd2736037 100644
--- a/synthtool/gcp/templates/java_library/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/synthtool/gcp/templates/java_library/.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