diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index cb01fda..9056470 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -124,8 +124,9 @@
         <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
         <version>3.8.1</version>
         <configuration>
-          <source>1.7</source>
-          <target>1.7</target>
+          <!-- we need to use the release flag instead of source/target because the target does not link correctly -->
+          <!-- see https://maven.apache.org/plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/examples/set-compiler-source-and-target.html -->
+          <release>7</release>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
       <plugin>