diff --git a/release/cloudbuild-kythe.yaml b/release/cloudbuild-kythe.yaml
index cf17deb19..e39f123bb 100644
--- a/release/cloudbuild-kythe.yaml
+++ b/release/cloudbuild-kythe.yaml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ steps:
     jvmopts="$${jvmopts} --add-exports=jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.api=ALL-UNNAMED"
     jvmopts="$${jvmopts} --add-exports=jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.code=ALL-UNNAMED"
     jvmopts="$${jvmopts} --add-exports=jdk.internal.opt/jdk.internal.opt=ALL-UNNAMED"
-    jvmopts="$${jvmopts} --add-opens=jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp=ALL-UNNAMED"
+    jvmopts="$${jvmopts} -J--add-opens=jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.comp=ALL-UNNAMED"
     export KYTHE_JAVA_RUNTIME_OPTIONS=$${jvmopts}
     export KYTHE_VNAMES="$${PWD}/vnames.json"
     export KYTHE_ROOT_DIRECTORY="$${PWD}"