diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 6a67651f..fa6f41b7 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -57,9 +57,10 @@ dependencies {
     rewrite("org.openrewrite.recipe:rewrite-recommendations:latest.release")
 
     // ↓ Classpath resource for MigrateTestNg* recipes
-    implementation("org.testng:testng:latest.release")
+    implementation("org.testng:testng:7.5.1")  // 7.5.x is the last Java 8 compatible version: https://github.com/testng-team/testng/issues/2775
+
     // ↓ also make jupiter available for refaster compilation
-    implementation("org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter:latest.release")
+    compileOnly("org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter-api:latest.release")
 
     // ↓ to allow using testing recipes in our recipe list
     testRuntimeOnly("org.openrewrite.recipe:rewrite-testing-frameworks:latest.release") {