diff --git a/fineract-provider/build.gradle b/fineract-provider/build.gradle
index 5fa6e1ec6..4978a6bed 100644
--- a/fineract-provider/build.gradle
+++ b/fineract-provider/build.gradle
@@ -20,7 +20,17 @@ description = '''\
 Run as:
 gradle clean tomcatrunwar
 '''
+
+project.ext.springBootVersion = '1.2.8.RELEASE'
+project.ext.springVersion = '4.1.9.RELEASE'
+project.ext.springOauthVersion = '2.0.4.RELEASE'
+project.ext.jerseyVersion = '1.17'
+project.ext.springDataJpaVersion = '1.7.0.RELEASE' // also change spring-boot-gradle-plugin version below
+
 buildscript {
+  ext {
+    openJPAVersion = '2.4.1'
+  }
   repositories {
   	 jcenter()
   	 mavenCentral()
@@ -31,8 +41,8 @@ buildscript {
      classpath 'org.gradle.api.plugins:gradle-tomcat-plugin:1.0',
                'nl.javadude.gradle.plugins:license-gradle-plugin:0.11.0',
                'org.zeroturnaround:gradle-jrebel-plugin:1.1.2',
-               'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-gradle-plugin:1.1.6.RELEASE' // also change springDataJpaVersion below
-     classpath 'org.apache.openjpa:openjpa-all:2.4.1'
+               'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-gradle-plugin:1.1.6.RELEASE' // also change springDataJpaVersion above
+     classpath "org.apache.openjpa:openjpa-all:$openJPAVersion"
      classpath 'at.schmutterer.oss.gradle:gradle-openjpa:0.2.0'
      classpath 'gradle.plugin.org.nosphere.apache:creadur-rat-gradle:0.2.2'
   }
@@ -57,16 +67,9 @@ sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 /* define binary compatibility version */
 targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 
-project.ext.springBootVersion = '1.2.8.RELEASE'
-project.ext.springVersion = '4.1.9.RELEASE'
-project.ext.springOauthVersion = '2.0.4.RELEASE'
-project.ext.jerseyVersion = '1.17'
-project.ext.springDataJpaVersion = '1.7.0.RELEASE' // also change spring-boot-gradle-plugin version above
-
 project.ext.mysqlUser='root'
 project.ext.mysqlPassword='mysql'
 
-
 group = 'org.apache.fineract'
 buildDir = new File(rootProject.projectDir, "../build")
 repositories {
diff --git a/fineract-provider/dependencies.gradle b/fineract-provider/dependencies.gradle
index 6cdd85c0e..6e788f47c 100644
--- a/fineract-provider/dependencies.gradle
+++ b/fineract-provider/dependencies.gradle
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ dependencies {
 				
 	       		[group: 'org.springframework.security.oauth', name: 'spring-security-oauth2', version: springOauthVersion],
 
-                [group: 'org.apache.openjpa', name:'openjpa-all', version:'2.4.1'],
-                //[group: 'org.apache.openjpa', name:'openjpa-maven-plugin', version:'2.4.1'],
+                [group: 'org.apache.openjpa', name:'openjpa-all', version: openJPAVersion],
                 //[group: 'javax.ws.rs', name: 'jsr311-api', version: '1.1.1'],
                 [group: 'com.sun.jersey', name: 'jersey-core', version: jerseyVersion],
                 [group: 'com.sun.jersey', name: 'jersey-servlet', version: jerseyVersion],