diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/templates/build.tmpl.gradle b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/templates/build.tmpl.gradle
index ee7f9395dd..d67306953a 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/templates/build.tmpl.gradle
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/templates/build.tmpl.gradle
@@ -50,9 +50,14 @@ android {
 		}
 	}
 
+    compileOptions {
+        sourceCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
+        targetCompatibility JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7
+    }
+
     sourceSets {
         main {
-            jniLibs.srcDir 'libs' 
+            jniLibs.srcDir 'libs'
             }
         }