diff --git a/java/config/config.go b/java/config/config.go
index 39584cb..05dfde6 100644
--- a/java/config/config.go
+++ b/java/config/config.go
@@ -105,7 +105,12 @@
 		if override := ctx.Config().Getenv("OVERRIDE_JLINK_VERSION_NUMBER"); override != "" {
 			return override
 		}
-		return "11"
+		switch ctx.Config().Getenv("EXPERIMENTAL_USE_OPENJDK17_TOOLCHAIN") {
+		case "true":
+			return "17"
+		default:
+			return "11"
+		}
 	})
 
 	pctx.SourcePathVariable("JavaToolchain", "${JavaHome}/bin")