diff --git a/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/JavaSpring/apiController.mustache b/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/JavaSpring/apiController.mustache
index a5fc96cab15..5333604f790 100644
--- a/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/JavaSpring/apiController.mustache
+++ b/modules/openapi-generator/src/main/resources/JavaSpring/apiController.mustache
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ import {{javaxPackage}}.annotation.Generated;
 <%={{ }}=%>
 {{/useRequestMappingOnController}}
 {{#operations}}
-public class {{classname}}Controller implements {{classname}} {
+public {{^jdk8-default-interface}}abstract {{/jdk8-default-interface}}class {{classname}}Controller implements {{classname}} {
 {{#isDelegate}}
 
     private final {{classname}}Delegate delegate;