diff --git a/build_defs.bzl b/build_defs.bzl
index 3dd0647ca89..1829b81fd49 100644
--- a/build_defs.bzl
+++ b/build_defs.bzl
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ DOCLINT_REFERENCES = ["-Xdoclint:reference"]
 
 JAVA_RELEASE_MIN = ["-source 8 -target 8"]
 
-POM_VERSION = "${project.version}"
+POM_VERSION = "2.53.1"