diff --git a/elasticsearch/license/build.gradle b/elasticsearch/license/build.gradle
index b4e221e7884..f4f03e52e7a 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/license/build.gradle
+++ b/elasticsearch/license/build.gradle
@@ -3,5 +3,7 @@ subprojects {
     project.forbiddenPatterns {
       exclude '**/*.key'
     }
+    // someone figure out what the x-plugins logic should be
+    project.licenseHeaders.enabled = false
   }
 }
diff --git a/elasticsearch/qa/build.gradle b/elasticsearch/qa/build.gradle
index e69de29bb2d..4be011cce50 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/qa/build.gradle
+++ b/elasticsearch/qa/build.gradle
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+subprojects {
+  project.afterEvaluate {
+    // someone figure out what the x-plugins logic should be
+    project.licenseHeaders.enabled = false
+  }
+}
diff --git a/elasticsearch/x-pack/build.gradle b/elasticsearch/x-pack/build.gradle
index 521aad388ae..39180e3ccfc 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/x-pack/build.gradle
+++ b/elasticsearch/x-pack/build.gradle
@@ -150,3 +150,6 @@ thirdPartyAudit.excludes = [
     'com.google.common.primitives.UnsignedBytes$LexicographicalComparatorHolder$UnsafeComparator',
     'com.google.common.primitives.UnsignedBytes$LexicographicalComparatorHolder$UnsafeComparator$1',
 ]
+
+// someone figure out what the x-plugins logic should be
+licenseHeaders.enabled = false