Fix for `target` and `release`

[bjornjorgensen]

fix for #684 and maybe #683

[bjornjorgensen]

@slandelle will you have a look?

[slandelle]

• #683 is invalid, it's a user error
• #684's status is "lack of information", waiting for a minimal reproducer to understand the issue
• this PR is invalid:
  • no tests, no understanding of what it tries to fix and how
  • introduces a non standard java.version System property out of the blue. There's no legitimate reason to do so.

From our previous discussion, it seams that you've tried to use ChatGPT to bypass engineering process:

1. reduce the issue to its minimal form,
2. understand the root cause,
3. fix it,
4. prove the fix works
5. ensure that things don't get broken in a future iteration

I can't say if someday AI will be able to achieve this and clearly, it's really not there yet.