diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 56636f83..6625bbcf 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -113,8 +113,12 @@
                 <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
                 <version>3.1</version>
                 <configuration>
-                    <source>1.8</source>
-                    <target>1.8</target>
+                    <source>1.7</source>
+                    <target>1.7</target>
+<!--The test sources use JDK 8 features, if you only have JDK 7, you can still build
+JavaMOP with 'mvn clean package -Dmaven.test.skip'-->
+                    <testSource>1.8</testSource>
+                    <testTarget>1.8</testTarget>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
             <plugin>
diff --git a/src/README.md b/src/README.md
index 34f39bcf..a606459e 100755
--- a/src/README.md
+++ b/src/README.md
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ v.3.0 or higher
 v.1.8 or higher
  * Check Git is installed properly: run `git` from a terminal.
 
+P.S. JDK 8 is required to run the tests of JavaMOP.
+
 ## Build and Install
 
 1. Run `git clone https://github.com/runtimeverification/javamop.git`