diff --git a/.github/workflows/maven.yml b/.github/workflows/maven.yml
index 87aed6441d6d..93e39135ec11 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/maven.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/maven.yml
@@ -219,8 +219,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build with downloaded Maven
         shell: bash
-        # palantir-java-format crashes on JDK 27 (palantir/palantir-java-format#1786); drop the skip once a fixed release is in maven-parent
-        run: mvn verify -Papache-release -Dgpg.skip=true -e -B -V ${{ matrix.java == '27' && '-Dspotless.skip=true' || '' }}
+        run: mvn verify -Papache-release -Dgpg.skip=true -e -B -V
 
       - name: Build site with downloaded Maven
         shell: bash
@@ -321,8 +320,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build Maven and ITs and run them
         shell: bash
-        # palantir-java-format crashes on JDK 27 (palantir/palantir-java-format#1786); drop the skip once a fixed release is in maven-parent
-        run: mvn install -e -B -V -Prun-its,mimir ${{ matrix.java == '27' && '-Dspotless.skip=true' || '' }}
+        run: mvn install -e -B -V -Prun-its,mimir
 
       - name: Upload Mimir caches
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index fe0847b796c8..0330806b138d 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -978,6 +978,22 @@ under the License.
   </build>
 
   <profiles>
+    <profile>
+      <!-- palantir-java-format crashes on JDK 27 (palantir/palantir-java-format#1786);
+           drop this profile once maven-parent ships a fixed release.
+           Activated by property, not <jdk>: the model builder tests build this POM in sessions
+           without java.version, where a <jdk> activation is an error. -->
+      <id>jdk27-skip-spotless</id>
+      <activation>
+        <property>
+          <name>java.specification.version</name>
+          <value>27</value>
+        </property>
+      </activation>
+      <properties>
+        <spotless.skip>true</spotless.skip>
+      </properties>
+    </profile>
     <profile>
       <id>mockito</id>
       <activation>