diff --git a/benchmarks/build.gradle.kts b/benchmarks/build.gradle.kts
index 8186a0d76..4c2df950e 100644
--- a/benchmarks/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/benchmarks/build.gradle.kts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ configure<SpotlessExtension> {
     }
 }
 
-val buf: Configuration by configurations.creating
+val buf = configurations.create("buf")
 
 tasks.register("configureBuf") {
     description = "Installs the Buf CLI."
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 4255d3a7b..bc7189bd0 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ if (matchResult != null) {
 }
 val releaseVersion = project.findProperty("releaseVersion") as String? ?: snapshotVersion
 
-val buf: Configuration by configurations.creating
+val buf = configurations.create("buf")
 val bufLicenseHeaderCLIFile =
     project.layout.buildDirectory
         .file("gobin/license-header")
@@ -268,11 +268,9 @@ tasks.matching { it.name == "sourcesJar" }.configureEach {
 
 tasks.withType<JavaCompile> {
     dependsOn("generate")
-    if (JavaVersion.current().isJava9Compatible) {
-        doFirst {
-            options.compilerArgs = mutableListOf("--release", "8")
-        }
-    }
+    options.release = 8
+    // JDK 9+ javac warns that release 8 is obsolete.
+    options.compilerArgs.add("-Xlint:-options")
     // Disable errorprone on generated code
     options.errorprone.excludedPaths.set(".*/build/generated/.*")
     if (!name.lowercase().contains("test")) {
diff --git a/conformance/build.gradle.kts b/conformance/build.gradle.kts
index 297c6e307..919b4a806 100644
--- a/conformance/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/conformance/build.gradle.kts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_21
 }
 
-val buf: Configuration by configurations.creating
+val buf = configurations.create("buf")
 
 tasks.register("configureBuf") {
     description = "Installs the Buf CLI."
@@ -96,11 +96,9 @@ sourceSets {
 
 tasks.withType<JavaCompile> {
     dependsOn("generateConformance")
-    if (JavaVersion.current().isJava9Compatible) {
-        doFirst {
-            options.compilerArgs = mutableListOf("--release", "8")
-        }
-    }
+    options.release = 8
+    // JDK 9+ javac warns that release 8 is obsolete.
+    options.compilerArgs.add("-Xlint:-options")
     // Disable errorprone on generated code
     options.errorprone.excludedPaths.set(".*/build/generated/sources/bufgen/.*")
 }
diff --git a/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index c9813148b..466745b2b 100644
--- a/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -25,6 +25,6 @@ spotless = { module = "com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-plugin-gradle", version =
 
 [plugins]
 errorprone = { id = "net.ltgt.errorprone", version = "5.1.1" }
-jmh = { id = "me.champeau.jmh", version = "0.7.3" }
+jmh = { id = "me.champeau.jmh", version = "0.7.4" }
 maven = { id = "com.vanniktech.maven.publish.base", version.ref = "maven-publish" }
 osdetector = { id = "com.google.osdetector", version = "1.7.3" }