diff --git a/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/hermes-engine/build.gradle.kts b/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/hermes-engine/build.gradle.kts
index 377afdb2edd..c67d510df01 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/hermes-engine/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/hermes-engine/build.gradle.kts
@@ -250,6 +250,11 @@ android {
       }
     }
     ndk { abiFilters.addAll(reactNativeArchitectures()) }
+
+    compileOptions {
+      sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_17
+      targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_17
+    }
   }
 
   externalNativeBuild {