diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/opensearch/gradle/test/rest/RestTestUtil.java b/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/opensearch/gradle/test/rest/RestTestUtil.java
index 43b2d5f8d18b9..061c477fab086 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/opensearch/gradle/test/rest/RestTestUtil.java
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/java/org/opensearch/gradle/test/rest/RestTestUtil.java
@@ -94,6 +94,12 @@ static void setupDependencies(Project project, SourceSet sourceSet) {
         } else {
             project.getDependencies()
                 .add(sourceSet.getImplementationConfigurationName(), "org.opensearch.test:framework:" + VersionProperties.getOpenSearch());
+            // The log4j-core is optional dependency of the org.opensearch.test:framework. needs explicit introduction
+            project.getDependencies()
+                .add(
+                    sourceSet.getImplementationConfigurationName(),
+                    "org.apache.logging.log4j:log4j-core:" + VersionProperties.getVersions().get("log4j")
+                );
         }
 
     }