diff --git a/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/JavaSpring/apiController.mustache b/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/JavaSpring/apiController.mustache
index 3b1020c8e98..cfdf2b9772b 100644
--- a/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/JavaSpring/apiController.mustache
+++ b/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/JavaSpring/apiController.mustache
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ import javax.validation.Valid;
 {{#jdk8}}
 import java.util.Optional;
 {{/jdk8}}
+{{^jdk8}}
+    {{#useOptional}}
+import java.util.Optional;
+    {{/useOptional}}
+{{/jdk8}}
 {{^jdk8}}
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;