diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 5c6ec366930..af18424944b 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ subprojects {
   ext.projectSubstitutions = [
     "org.elasticsearch:rest-api-spec:${version}": ':rest-api-spec',
     "org.elasticsearch:elasticsearch:${version}": ':core',
+    "org.elasticsearch:client:${version}": ':client',
     "org.elasticsearch.test:framework:${version}": ':test:framework',
     "org.elasticsearch.distribution.integ-test-zip:elasticsearch:${version}": ':distribution:integ-test-zip',
     "org.elasticsearch.distribution.zip:elasticsearch:${version}": ':distribution:zip',