diff --git a/build-release.xml b/build-release.xml
index 82c61607..b8621e2f 100644
--- a/build-release.xml
+++ b/build-release.xml
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@
 
     <import file="build.xml"/>
 
+    <!-- Java 7 runs into TLS protocol issues when dealing with repositories
+        that no longer support older protocols -->
+    <condition property="java.sysprop.https.protocols" value="" else="TLSv1.2">
+        <javaversion atleast="1.8"/>
+    </condition>
+
     <macrodef name="run-tutorial">
         <attribute name="antfile"/>
         <attribute name="output"/>
@@ -58,6 +64,9 @@
                 <sysproperty key="ivy.local.default.root" value="${tutorial.local-repo}"/>
                 <sysproperty key="ivy.cache.ttl.default" value="1s"/>
                 <sysproperty key="skip.download" value="true"/>
+                <!-- We select specific HTTPS protocols, based on the Java version we are running
+                    on -->
+                <sysproperty key="https.protocols" value="${java.sysprop.https.protocols}"/>
                 <arg line="-f @{antfile}"/>
                 <arg line="@{target}"/>
             </java>