diff --git a/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/refactoring/memberPullUp/PullUpHelper.java b/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/refactoring/memberPullUp/PullUpHelper.java
index 7a11a69e2d82..ea230e3517ce 100644
--- a/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/refactoring/memberPullUp/PullUpHelper.java
+++ b/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/refactoring/memberPullUp/PullUpHelper.java
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ public class PullUpHelper extends BaseRefactoringProcessor{
         if (myIsTargetInterface || info.isToAbstract()) {
           ChangeContextUtil.clearContextInfo(method);
 
-          if (!info.isToAbstract() && !method.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.ABSTRACT)) {
+          if (!info.isToAbstract() && !method.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.ABSTRACT) && PsiUtil.isLanguageLevel8OrHigher(myTargetSuperClass)) {
             //pull as default
             RefactoringUtil.makeMethodDefault(methodCopy);
             isOriginalMethodAbstract = true;