diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/opensearch/gradle/OpenSearchTestBasePlugin.java b/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/opensearch/gradle/OpenSearchTestBasePlugin.java
index 4638cee1d96a6..67df8bbafcb03 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/opensearch/gradle/OpenSearchTestBasePlugin.java
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/opensearch/gradle/OpenSearchTestBasePlugin.java
@@ -109,7 +109,10 @@ public void execute(Task t) {
                         test.systemProperty("java.locale.providers", "SPI,JRE");
                     } else {
                         test.systemProperty("java.locale.providers", "SPI,COMPAT");
-                        test.jvmArgs("--illegal-access=warn", "-Djava.security.manager=allow");
+                        test.jvmArgs("--illegal-access=warn");
+                    }
+                    if (test.getJavaVersion().compareTo(JavaVersion.VERSION_17) > 0) {
+                        test.jvmArgs("-Djava.security.manager=allow");
                     }
                 }
             });
diff --git a/distribution/tools/launchers/src/main/java/org/opensearch/tools/launchers/SystemJvmOptions.java b/distribution/tools/launchers/src/main/java/org/opensearch/tools/launchers/SystemJvmOptions.java
index 30969a0df2a2c..aa3dfbe39ee96 100644
--- a/distribution/tools/launchers/src/main/java/org/opensearch/tools/launchers/SystemJvmOptions.java
+++ b/distribution/tools/launchers/src/main/java/org/opensearch/tools/launchers/SystemJvmOptions.java
@@ -78,12 +78,20 @@ static List<String> systemJvmOptions() {
                 "-Dlog4j.shutdownHookEnabled=false",
                 "-Dlog4j2.disable.jmx=true",
                 // security manager
-                "-Djava.security.manager=allow",
+                allowSecurityManagerOption(),
                 javaLocaleProviders()
             )
         ).stream().filter(e -> e.isEmpty() == false).collect(Collectors.toList());
     }
 
+    private static String allowSecurityManagerOption() {
+        if (Runtime.version().feature() > 17) {
+            return "-Djava.security.manager=allow";
+        } else {
+            return "";
+        }
+    }
+
     private static String maybeShowCodeDetailsInExceptionMessages() {
         if (Runtime.version().feature() >= 14) {
             return "-XX:+ShowCodeDetailsInExceptionMessages";