diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/language/java.rb b/Library/Homebrew/language/java.rb
index 78077f3578..1d2685d3fb 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/language/java.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/language/java.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module Language
         next false unless f.any_version_installed?
 
         unless version.zero?
-          major = f.version.to_s[/\d+/].to_i
+          major = f.opt_or_installed_prefix_keg.version.major
           next false if major < version
           next false if major > version && !can_be_newer
         end