diff --git a/java/plugin.jelly b/java/plugin.jelly
index 247ed2c0..191f294e 100644
--- a/java/plugin.jelly
+++ b/java/plugin.jelly
@@ -45,11 +45,12 @@
         
     <j:choose>
       <j:when test="${sourcesPresent == 'true'}">
-        <ant:javac
+      	<ant:javac
           destdir="${maven.build.dest}"
           excludes="**/package.html"
           debug="${maven.compile.debug}"
           deprecation="${maven.compile.deprecation}"
+          target="${maven.compile.target}"
           optimize="${maven.compile.optimize}">
           <ant:src>
             <ant:path refid="maven.compile.src.set"/>
@@ -97,10 +98,6 @@
             <ant:setProperty name="source" value="${maven.compile.source}" />
           </j:if>
           
-          <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.compile.target') != null}">
-            <ant:setProperty name="target" value="${maven.compile.target}" />
-          </j:if>
-          
           <j:if test="${context.getVariable('maven.compile.verbose') != null}">
             <ant:setProperty name="verbose" value="${maven.compile.verbose}" />
           </j:if>
diff --git a/java/plugin.properties b/java/plugin.properties
index 4670466d..b16dad0c 100644
--- a/java/plugin.properties
+++ b/java/plugin.properties
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 maven.jar.manifest = ${maven.conf.dir}/Manifest.mf
-maven.jar.mainclass = 
\ No newline at end of file
+maven.jar.mainclass = 
+maven.compile.target = 1.1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/java/xdocs/properties.xml b/java/xdocs/properties.xml
index bc0177c6..5d6afdff 100644
--- a/java/xdocs/properties.xml
+++ b/java/xdocs/properties.xml
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@
               Corresponds to the <code>target</code> attribute for the ant 
               <a href="http://ant.apache.org/manual/CoreTasks/javac.html">javac</a>
               task.
+              This value defaults to 1.1 so that builds on JDK 1.4 or later stil work on
+              earlier JVMs.
             </p>
           </td>
         </tr>