diff --git a/gradle-sls-packaging/src/main/java/com/palantir/gradle/dist/service/tasks/LaunchConfigTask.java b/gradle-sls-packaging/src/main/java/com/palantir/gradle/dist/service/tasks/LaunchConfigTask.java
index f30cb6c6e..24e382e6c 100644
--- a/gradle-sls-packaging/src/main/java/com/palantir/gradle/dist/service/tasks/LaunchConfigTask.java
+++ b/gradle-sls-packaging/src/main/java/com/palantir/gradle/dist/service/tasks/LaunchConfigTask.java
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ public abstract class LaunchConfigTask extends DefaultTask {
     private static final ImmutableList<String> java15Options =
             ImmutableList.of("-XX:+UnlockDiagnosticVMOptions", "-XX:+ExpandSubTypeCheckAtParseTime");
     private static final ImmutableList<String> java17PlusOptions = ImmutableList.of(
+            "-XX:+UseStringDeduplication", // only enable on JDK 17+ due to https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8277981
             "-Xlog:async"); // remove if/when async is default, see https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8291898
     private static final ImmutableList<String> disableBiasedLocking = ImmutableList.of("-XX:-UseBiasedLocking");
     // Disable C2 compilation for problematic structure in JDK 11.0.16, see https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8291665