diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3ec9adbcb..25ebb73d9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ Java:
 </dependency>
 ```
 
+**Note:** The Web3j Java binaries are compiled using Java 17. Java 17 or a more recent version is required to use Web3j
+ as a dependency.
+
 Android:
 
 ```xml