diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index 1ba9397..dae00b1 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -13,11 +13,17 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Set up JDK 25
+      # Gradle 8.11.1 cannot run its own daemon on JDK 25 yet, but the plugin's
+      # toolchain targets 25 (required by the Paper 26.2 API). Install both:
+      # JDK 21 last so it becomes JAVA_HOME (runs Gradle itself), while JDK 25
+      # stays discoverable via JAVA_HOME_25_X64 for Gradle's toolchain to use.
+      - name: Set up JDKs
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: temurin
-          java-version: "25"
+          java-version: |
+            25
+            21
 
       - name: Grant execute permission for gradlew
         run: chmod +x gradlew