diff --git a/compiler/tests-different-jdk/build.gradle.kts b/compiler/tests-different-jdk/build.gradle.kts
index 17eb5397315..d98e1f16800 100644
--- a/compiler/tests-different-jdk/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/compiler/tests-different-jdk/build.gradle.kts
@@ -53,12 +53,14 @@ fun Project.codegenTest(
 codegenTest(target = 6, jvm = 6, jdk = "JDK_18") {
     dependsOn(testJvm6ServerRuntime)
 
-    systemProperty("kotlin.test.default.jvm.target", "1.6")
-    systemProperty("kotlin.test.java.compilation.target", "1.6")
+    doFirst {
+        systemProperty("kotlin.test.default.jvm.target", "1.6")
+        systemProperty("kotlin.test.java.compilation.target", "1.6")
 
-    val port = project.findProperty("kotlin.compiler.codegen.tests.port") ?: "5100"
-    systemProperty("kotlin.test.box.in.separate.process.port", port)
-    systemProperty("kotlin.test.box.in.separate.process.server.classpath", testJvm6ServerRuntime.asPath)
+        val port = project.findProperty("kotlin.compiler.codegen.tests.port") ?: "5100"
+        systemProperty("kotlin.test.box.in.separate.process.port", port)
+        systemProperty("kotlin.test.box.in.separate.process.server.classpath", testJvm6ServerRuntime.asPath)
+    }
 }
 
 codegenTest(target = 6, jvm = 9) {}