diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/build.gradle b/x-pack/plugin/build.gradle
index a66459eb1aa..289e6e6db9c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/build.gradle
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/build.gradle
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ apply plugin: 'elasticsearch.rest-test'
 archivesBaseName = 'x-pack'
 
 dependencies {
+  testCompile project(xpackModule('core')) // this redundant dependency is here to make IntelliJ happy
   testCompile project(path: xpackModule('core'), configuration: 'testArtifacts')
 }
 
diff --git a/x-pack/qa/evil-tests/build.gradle b/x-pack/qa/evil-tests/build.gradle
index a785dd4e496..b90ab6dd336 100644
--- a/x-pack/qa/evil-tests/build.gradle
+++ b/x-pack/qa/evil-tests/build.gradle
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 apply plugin: 'elasticsearch.standalone-test'
 
 dependencies {
-  testCompile project(path: xpackModule('core'), configuration: 'testArtifacts')
   testCompile project(path: xpackModule('security'), configuration: 'testArtifacts')
 }