diff --git a/.github/workflows/android_ci.yml b/.github/workflows/android_ci.yml
index da48abbd..dec5a27b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/android_ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/android_ci.yml
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: set up JDK 17
+      - name: set up JDK 21
         uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'zulu'
-          java-version: '17'
+          java-version: '21'
       - name: lint
         run: bash ./gradlew lintDebug --stacktrace
       - name: unit tests
diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale.yml b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
index c16922be..ccd261b0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
@@ -16,5 +16,5 @@ jobs:
           stale-pr-message: 'This pull request has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.'
           stale-issue-label: 'stale'
           stale-pr-label: 'stale'
-          exempt-issue-labels: 'bug,high-priority,stale'
+          exempt-issue-labels: 'bug,high-priority'
           days-before-stale: 365