diff --git a/manifold-core-parent/manifold/src/main/java/manifold/api/util/JavacUtil.java b/manifold-core-parent/manifold/src/main/java/manifold/api/util/JavacUtil.java
index c7c9d72d0..590ae682b 100644
--- a/manifold-core-parent/manifold/src/main/java/manifold/api/util/JavacUtil.java
+++ b/manifold-core-parent/manifold/src/main/java/manifold/api/util/JavacUtil.java
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
 
 import com.sun.tools.javac.processing.JavacProcessingEnvironment;
 import com.sun.tools.javac.util.Context;
+import com.sun.tools.javac.util.Options;
 import manifold.internal.javac.JavacPlugin;
+import manifold.util.JreUtil;
 
 import javax.lang.model.SourceVersion;
 
@@ -35,4 +37,17 @@ public static int getSourceNumber()
   {
     return getSourceVersion().ordinal();
   }
+
+  public static int getReleaseNumber()
+  {
+    String release = Options.instance( JavacPlugin.instance().getContext() ).get( "--release" );
+    try
+    {
+      return Integer.parseInt( release );
+    }
+    catch( NumberFormatException e )
+    {
+      return JreUtil.JAVA_VERSION;
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/manifold-core-parent/manifold/src/main/java/manifold/internal/javac/SrcClassUtil.java b/manifold-core-parent/manifold/src/main/java/manifold/internal/javac/SrcClassUtil.java
index 42bdb917a..9f7ff5176 100644
--- a/manifold-core-parent/manifold/src/main/java/manifold/internal/javac/SrcClassUtil.java
+++ b/manifold-core-parent/manifold/src/main/java/manifold/internal/javac/SrcClassUtil.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 
 import manifold.api.gen.*;
 import manifold.api.host.IModule;
+import manifold.api.util.JavacUtil;
 import manifold.rt.api.util.ManEscapeUtil;
 import manifold.util.JreUtil;
 import manifold.util.ReflectUtil;
@@ -976,7 +977,7 @@ private boolean isExpired( Symbol symbol )
       {
         for( Pair<Symbol.MethodSymbol, Attribute> value: annotationMirror.values )
         {
-          return JreUtil.JAVA_VERSION >= (int)value.snd.getValue();
+          return JavacUtil.getReleaseNumber() >= (int)value.snd.getValue();
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/manifold-deps-parent/manifold-ext/src/main/java/manifold/ext/ExtCodeGen.java b/manifold-deps-parent/manifold-ext/src/main/java/manifold/ext/ExtCodeGen.java
index 87bfbc978..62cbf5931 100644
--- a/manifold-deps-parent/manifold-ext/src/main/java/manifold/ext/ExtCodeGen.java
+++ b/manifold-deps-parent/manifold-ext/src/main/java/manifold/ext/ExtCodeGen.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 import manifold.api.host.IModule;
 import manifold.api.type.ITypeManifold;
 import manifold.api.util.JavacDiagnostic;
+import manifold.api.util.JavacUtil;
 import manifold.ext.rt.ExtensionMethod;
 import manifold.ext.rt.ForwardingExtensionMethod;
 import manifold.ext.rt.api.Expires;
@@ -649,7 +650,7 @@ private boolean isExtensionMethod( AbstractSrcMethod method, SrcClass extendedTy
 
     SrcAnnotationExpression expires = method.getAnnotation( Expires.class );
     if( expires != null &&
-      JreUtil.JAVA_VERSION >= Integer.parseInt( expires.getArgument( "value" ).getValue().toString() ) )
+      JavacUtil.getReleaseNumber() >= Integer.parseInt( expires.getArgument( "value" ).getValue().toString() ) )
     {
       // on or past the method's expiration jdk
       return false;