diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 7c571f39338..97d28d4ef1d 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ subprojects {
     }
 
     dependencies {
-        compile group: 'log4j', name: 'log4j', version:'1.2.17'
         testCompile group: 'org.ini4j', name: 'ini4j', version:'0.5.2'
         // Includes: junit, hamcrest and mockito
         testCompile group: 'org.elasticsearch.test', name: 'framework', version: '5.0.0-beta1'