diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml b/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
index db646987a..0d57af051 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ jobs:
           done
           if [[ $changesOutsideDocsCI == true ]]; then
             echo "testing_needed=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "Changes outside CI and docs detected. Start testing pipeline."
           else
             echo "testing_needed=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
             echo "No need for the build and test pipeline to run. Exiting."
@@ -64,10 +65,10 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
       - name: "Setup Java"
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 17
+          java-version: 21
           cache: 'gradle'
 
       - name: Setup Gradle cache
@@ -104,10 +105,10 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
       - name: "Setup Java"
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 17
+          java-version: 21
           cache: 'gradle'
 
       - name: Setup Gradle cache
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-jars.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-jars.yml
index 1160bea37..71d836cdd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-jars.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-jars.yml
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: "Checkout Branch"
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
       - name: "Setup Java"
-        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin'
-          java-version: 17
+          java-version: 21
           cache: 'gradle'
       - name: Validate Gradle wrapper
         uses: gradle/wrapper-validation-action@v1