diff --git a/instrumentation/spring/spring-boot-autoconfigure/build.gradle.kts b/instrumentation/spring/spring-boot-autoconfigure/build.gradle.kts
index 1220cbcff50c..dafd20b4f923 100644
--- a/instrumentation/spring/spring-boot-autoconfigure/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/instrumentation/spring/spring-boot-autoconfigure/build.gradle.kts
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ if (latestDepTest) {
   }
 }
 
+val testJavaVersion = gradle.startParameter.projectProperties["testJavaVersion"]?.let(JavaVersion::toVersion)
+val testSpring3 = (testJavaVersion == null || testJavaVersion.compareTo(JavaVersion.VERSION_17) >= 0)
+
 testing {
   suites {
     val testLogbackAppender by registering(JvmTestSuite::class) {
@@ -204,6 +207,10 @@ tasks {
     options.release.set(17)
   }
 
+  named<Test>("testSpring3") {
+    isEnabled = testSpring3
+  }
+
   withType(Jar::class) {
     from(sourceSets["javaSpring3"].output)
   }