diff --git a/subprojects/internal-integ-testing/src/main/groovy/org/gradle/integtests/fixtures/executer/DefaultGradleDistribution.java b/subprojects/internal-integ-testing/src/main/groovy/org/gradle/integtests/fixtures/executer/DefaultGradleDistribution.java
index 4faaa5c7e537..c53208e57e7f 100644
--- a/subprojects/internal-integ-testing/src/main/groovy/org/gradle/integtests/fixtures/executer/DefaultGradleDistribution.java
+++ b/subprojects/internal-integ-testing/src/main/groovy/org/gradle/integtests/fixtures/executer/DefaultGradleDistribution.java
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ private boolean worksWith(JavaVersion javaVersion) {
             return javaVersion.compareTo(JavaVersion.VERSION_1_7) >= 0 && javaVersion.compareTo(JavaVersion.VERSION_1_10) <= 0;
         }
 
+        // 5.x only supports up to Java 12, 5.6 was the last release
+        if (isSameOrOlder("5.7")) {
+            return javaVersion.compareTo(JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8) >= 0 && javaVersion.compareTo(JavaVersion.VERSION_12) <= 0;
+        }
+
         return javaVersion.compareTo(JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8) >= 0;
     }