diff --git a/emoji-table-generator/pom.xml b/emoji-table-generator/pom.xml
index c158f3dd..ed4d9c43 100644
--- a/emoji-table-generator/pom.xml
+++ b/emoji-table-generator/pom.xml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
     <properties>
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
+        <javac.target>1.6</javac.target>
     </properties>
 
     <dependencies>
@@ -21,4 +22,18 @@
             <version>4.0.0</version>
         </dependency>
     </dependencies>
+
+    <build>
+        <plugins>
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>3.8.0</version>
+                <configuration>
+                    <source>${javac.target}</source>
+                    <target>${javac.target}</target>
+                </configuration>
+            </plugin>
+        </plugins>
+    </build>
 </project>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index f79163e4..ff7c350e 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 
     <properties>
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
+        <javac.target>1.6</javac.target>
     </properties>
 
     <dependencies>
@@ -72,6 +73,17 @@
                 </plugin>
             </plugins>
         </pluginManagement>
+        <plugins>
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>3.8.0</version>
+                <configuration>
+                    <source>${javac.target}</source>
+                    <target>${javac.target}</target>
+                </configuration>
+            </plugin>
+        </plugins>
     </build>
 
     <profiles>
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/vdurmont/emoji/EmojiParser.java b/src/main/java/com/vdurmont/emoji/EmojiParser.java
index ccb9b929..efa20bf7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/vdurmont/emoji/EmojiParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/vdurmont/emoji/EmojiParser.java
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ public class EmojiParser {
   private static final Pattern ALIAS_CANDIDATE_PATTERN =
     Pattern.compile("(?<=:)\\+?(\\w|\\||\\-)+(?=:)");
 
+  private static final EmojiTransformer REMOVE_TRANSFORMER = new EmojiTransformer() {
+    public String transform(UnicodeCandidate unicodeCandidate) {
+      return "";
+    }
+  };
+
   /**
    * See {@link #parseToAliases(String, FitzpatrickAction)} with the action
    * "PARSE"
@@ -287,13 +293,7 @@ public String transform(UnicodeCandidate unicodeCandidate) {
    * @return the string without any emoji
    */
   public static String removeAllEmojis(String str) {
-    EmojiTransformer emojiTransformer = new EmojiTransformer() {
-      public String transform(UnicodeCandidate unicodeCandidate) {
-        return "";
-      }
-    };
-
-    return parseFromUnicode(str, emojiTransformer);
+    return parseFromUnicode(str, REMOVE_TRANSFORMER);
   }