diff --git a/.github/workflows/unittests.yml b/.github/workflows/unittests.yml
index eb98f1ef20609..e238620ed2756 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unittests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unittests.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check out the repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
+      - name: Set up JDK 21
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+        with:
+          java-version: '21'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+
       - name: Setup local maven cache
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with: