diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 06866a0e863..b47ba4a0911 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ spockVersion=2.0-groovy-3.0
 testContainersVersion=1.19.3
 jetty.version=9.4.53.v20231009
 spring-security.version=5.8.11
-log4j2.version=2.17.1
+log4j2.version=2.17.2
 assetPluginVersion=3.4.3
 dbMigrationPluginVersion=4.2.1
 liquibaseVersion=4.19.0
diff --git a/testbuild.groovy b/testbuild.groovy
index c1bd2823f35..66d5c8fff7e 100644
--- a/testbuild.groovy
+++ b/testbuild.groovy
@@ -44,11 +44,14 @@ if(options.buildType == 'development'){
 
 def debug=Boolean.getBoolean('debug')?:("-debug" in args)
 
+def gprops=new Properties()
+new File('gradle.properties').withReader(gprops.&load)
+
 //versions of dependency we want to verify
 def versions=[
-        jetty:'9.4.53.v20231009',
+        jetty: gprops['jetty.version'],
         servlet:'api-3.1.0',
-        log4j:'2.17.1'
+        log4j: gprops['log4j2.version']
 ]
 
 def warFile= "rundeckapp/${target}/rundeck-${version}.war"