diff --git a/pmd-lang-test/src/main/kotlin/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/test/TestUtils.kt b/pmd-lang-test/src/main/kotlin/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/test/TestUtils.kt
index f96e2c7cd4..d43e2b1f14 100644
--- a/pmd-lang-test/src/main/kotlin/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/test/TestUtils.kt
+++ b/pmd-lang-test/src/main/kotlin/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/test/TestUtils.kt
@@ -97,14 +97,8 @@ fun assertSuppressed(report: Report, size: Int): List<Report.SuppressedViolation
 /** Checks the coordinates of this node. */
 fun Node.assertPosition(bline: Int, bcol: Int, eline: Int, ecol: Int) {
     reportLocation.apply {
-        {
-            this. // todo rename to getStartLine
-            getStartLine()
-        } shouldBe bline
-        {
-            this. // todo rename to getStartLine
-            getStartColumn()
-        } shouldBe bcol
+        this::getStartLine shouldBe bline
+        this::getStartColumn shouldBe bcol
         this::getEndLine shouldBe eline
         this::getEndColumn shouldBe ecol
     }
diff --git a/pmd-scala-modules/pmd-scala-common/pom.xml b/pmd-scala-modules/pmd-scala-common/pom.xml
index 94c9cf87ce..28eb61b22a 100644
--- a/pmd-scala-modules/pmd-scala-common/pom.xml
+++ b/pmd-scala-modules/pmd-scala-common/pom.xml
@@ -23,16 +23,6 @@
                 <directory>../pmd-scala-common/src/main/resources</directory>
             </resource>
         </resources>
-        <plugins>
-            <plugin>
-                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
-                <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
-                <configuration>
-                    <source>8</source>
-                    <target>8</target>
-                </configuration>
-            </plugin>
-        </plugins>
         <testSourceDirectory>../pmd-scala-common/src/test/java</testSourceDirectory>
         <testResources>
             <testResource>