diff --git a/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-jta-jndi/pom.xml b/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-jta-jndi/pom.xml
index 73a54e864e2..bf2a398695f 100644
--- a/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-jta-jndi/pom.xml
+++ b/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-jta-jndi/pom.xml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 		<url>http://www.spring.io</url>
 	</organization>
 	<properties>
+		<java.version>1.7</java.version>
 		<main.basedir>${basedir}/../..</main.basedir>
 	</properties>
 	<dependencies>
diff --git a/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-servlet/pom.xml b/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-servlet/pom.xml
index 2163dd4c472..430e3808e54 100644
--- a/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-servlet/pom.xml
+++ b/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-servlet/pom.xml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 	</organization>
 	<properties>
 		<main.basedir>${basedir}/../..</main.basedir>
+		<java.version>1.7</java.version>
 		<m2eclipse.wtp.contextRoot>/</m2eclipse.wtp.contextRoot>
 	</properties>
 	<dependencies>
diff --git a/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-web-jsp/pom.xml b/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-web-jsp/pom.xml
index 2b756feaa92..a2b9d6f2746 100644
--- a/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-web-jsp/pom.xml
+++ b/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-web-jsp/pom.xml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 	</organization>
 	<properties>
 		<main.basedir>${basedir}/../..</main.basedir>
+		<java.version>1.7</java.version>
 		<m2eclipse.wtp.contextRoot>/</m2eclipse.wtp.contextRoot>
 	</properties>
 	<dependencies>
diff --git a/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-web-static/pom.xml b/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-web-static/pom.xml
index 608735049d9..3dabd368e76 100644
--- a/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-web-static/pom.xml
+++ b/spring-boot-samples/spring-boot-sample-web-static/pom.xml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 		<url>http://www.spring.io</url>
 	</organization>
 	<properties>
+		<java.version>1.7</java.version>
 		<main.basedir>${basedir}/../..</main.basedir>
 	</properties>
 	<dependencies>