diff --git a/test/deployment/pom.xml b/test/deployment/pom.xml
index 18d945a720..1a74ac55e5 100644
--- a/test/deployment/pom.xml
+++ b/test/deployment/pom.xml
@@ -38,6 +38,19 @@ under the License.
             <url>https://repo.grakn.ai/repository/maven-snapshot/</url>
         </repository>
     </repositories>
+    <build>
+        <plugins>
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>3.6.1</version>
+                <configuration>
+                    <source>1.8</source>
+                    <target>1.8</target>
+                </configuration>
+            </plugin>
+        </plugins>
+    </build>
     <dependencies>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.grakn.client</groupId>