diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 0638a789cb0..1f16d6b2738 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ jobs:
     - name: Setup Gradle
       uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v3.5.0
 
+    - name: Use Java 21 for Gradle itself
+      run: ./gradlew updateDaemonJvm --jvm-version=21
+
     - name: Run test script checker/bin-devel/test-${{ matrix.script }}
       run: ./checker/bin-devel/test-${{ matrix.script }}.sh