diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.pde.build/src/org/eclipse/pde/internal/build/builder/ModelBuildScriptGenerator.java b/build/org.eclipse.pde.build/src/org/eclipse/pde/internal/build/builder/ModelBuildScriptGenerator.java
index 97abe5e378..8de51b0fa4 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.pde.build/src/org/eclipse/pde/internal/build/builder/ModelBuildScriptGenerator.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.pde.build/src/org/eclipse/pde/internal/build/builder/ModelBuildScriptGenerator.java
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IStatus;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.Status;
 import org.eclipse.equinox.p2.publisher.eclipse.FeatureEntry;
+import org.eclipse.jdt.core.JavaCore;
 import org.eclipse.osgi.service.resolver.BundleDescription;
 import org.eclipse.osgi.service.resolver.HostSpecification;
 import org.eclipse.osgi.service.resolver.State;
@@ -1067,10 +1068,12 @@ private void generateCompilerSettings() throws CoreException {
 		script.printProperty(PROPERTY_JAVAC_COMPILERARG, ""); //$NON-NLS-1$  
 		script.printProperty(PROPERTY_PREREQ_COMPILE_LOG, Utils.getPropertyFormat(PROPERTY_BUILD_DIRECTORY) + "/prereqErrors.log"); //$NON-NLS-1$
 
-		if (javacSource == null)
-			script.printProperty(IXMLConstants.PROPERTY_JAVAC_SOURCE, "1.8"); //$NON-NLS-1$
-		if (javacTarget == null)
-			script.printProperty(IXMLConstants.PROPERTY_JAVAC_TARGET, "1.8"); //$NON-NLS-1$  
+		if (javacSource == null) {
+			script.printProperty(IXMLConstants.PROPERTY_JAVAC_SOURCE, JavaCore.getAllJavaSourceVersionsSupportedByCompiler().first());
+		}
+		if (javacTarget == null) {
+			script.printProperty(IXMLConstants.PROPERTY_JAVAC_TARGET, JavaCore.getAllJavaSourceVersionsSupportedByCompiler().first());
+		}
 		if (bootClasspath == null) {
 			script.println("<condition property=\"dir_bootclasspath\" value=\"${java.home}/../Classes\">");//$NON-NLS-1$  
 			script.println("\t<and>"); //$NON-NLS-1$