diff --git a/.java-version b/.java-version
index 1f99dcef..1b02a2c1 100644
--- a/.java-version
+++ b/.java-version
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 # Latest GitHub Action java release that is installed on the runners
-17
+21
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index a2de96bb..e1fe9fcd 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@
                             <excludes>
                                 <exclude>src/test/resources/**</exclude>
                                 <exclude>src/main/resources/**</exclude>
+                                <exclude>.java-version</exclude>
                             </excludes>
                         </licenseSet>
                     </licenseSets>