diff --git a/build.sbt b/build.sbt
index 6bece7d0a..57040578a 100644
--- a/build.sbt
+++ b/build.sbt
@@ -88,3 +88,5 @@ libraryDependencies ++= Seq(
       )
   }
 }
+
+javacOptions ++= Seq("-source", "20", "-target", "20")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/scala/chiseltest/internal/ThreadedBackend.scala b/src/main/scala/chiseltest/internal/ThreadedBackend.scala
index c2b52a4cc..dc623368c 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/chiseltest/internal/ThreadedBackend.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/chiseltest/internal/ThreadedBackend.scala
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ trait ThreadedBackend[T <: Module] extends BackendInterface {
 
     // noinspection ConvertExpressionToSAM
     // TODO: code analysis suggests "Convert expression to Single Abstract Method", will that work?
-    val thread = new Thread(new Runnable {
+    val thread = Thread.ofVirtual().unstarted(new Runnable {
       def run(): Unit = {
         try {
           waiting.acquire()