diff --git a/build-logic/base/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/SpockBasePlugin.groovy b/build-logic/base/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/SpockBasePlugin.groovy
index 9de191e2d7..cb8286a1b9 100644
--- a/build-logic/base/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/SpockBasePlugin.groovy
+++ b/build-logic/base/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/SpockBasePlugin.groovy
@@ -19,11 +19,38 @@ package org.spockframework.gradle
 import groovy.transform.CompileStatic
 import org.gradle.api.Plugin
 import org.gradle.api.Project
+import org.gradle.api.tasks.compile.GroovyCompile
+import org.gradle.api.tasks.compile.JavaCompile
 import org.gradle.api.tasks.testing.Test
+import org.gradle.jvm.toolchain.JavaLanguageVersion
+import org.gradle.jvm.toolchain.JavaToolchainService
 
 @CompileStatic
 class SpockBasePlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
+
   void apply(Project project) {
+    compileTasks(project)
+    testTasks(project)
+  }
+
+  private static void compileTasks(Project project) {
+    project.with {
+      def javaToolchains = extensions.getByType(JavaToolchainService)
+      tasks.withType(JavaCompile).configureEach { comp ->
+        if (it.name == 'compileJava') {
+          comp.javaCompiler.set(javaToolchains.compilerFor {
+            it.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(8))
+          })
+        }
+        comp.options.encoding = 'UTF-8'
+      }
+      tasks.withType(GroovyCompile).configureEach {
+        it.options.encoding = 'UTF-8'
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static void testTasks(Project project) {
     project.tasks.withType(Test).configureEach { task ->
       def taskName = task.name.capitalize()
       File configFile = project.file("Spock${taskName}Config.groovy")
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index ffb1911504..3770e5d0d6 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ subprojects {
   apply plugin: "java-library"
   apply plugin: "groovy"
   apply plugin: "jacoco"
+  apply plugin: "org.spockframework.base"
 
   java {
     toolchain {
@@ -109,18 +110,6 @@ subprojects {
     }
   }
 
-  tasks.withType(JavaCompile).configureEach {
-    if (it.name == 'compileJava') {
-      javaCompiler = javaToolchains.compilerFor {
-        languageVersion = JavaLanguageVersion.of(8)
-      }
-    }
-    options.encoding = 'UTF-8'
-  }
-  tasks.withType(GroovyCompile).configureEach {
-    options.encoding = 'UTF-8'
-  }
-
   sourceSets.all { ss ->
     for (gv in variants.findAll { variant <= it }) {
       java {
diff --git a/spock-specs/specs.gradle b/spock-specs/specs.gradle
index 898fe4ae04..fcfe90c139 100644
--- a/spock-specs/specs.gradle
+++ b/spock-specs/specs.gradle
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 import org.spockframework.gradle.JacocoJavaagentProvider
 
-plugins {
-  id 'org.spockframework.base'
-}
-
 ext.displayName = "Spock Framework - Specs for Core Module"
 
 description = "Spock specifications for the Core Module. Yes, we eat our own dog food."
diff --git a/spock-testkit/testkit.gradle b/spock-testkit/testkit.gradle
index c1f34e97c2..8f1ce1f5b2 100644
--- a/spock-testkit/testkit.gradle
+++ b/spock-testkit/testkit.gradle
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
-plugins {
-  id 'org.spockframework.base'
-}
-
 ext.displayName = "Spock Framework - Temp Specs for Core Module"
 
 //configurations {