diff --git a/spring-batch-samples/pom.xml b/spring-batch-samples/pom.xml
index a3a3b16c9..e9f85dec4 100644
--- a/spring-batch-samples/pom.xml
+++ b/spring-batch-samples/pom.xml
@@ -168,6 +168,8 @@
 		<dependency>
 			<groupId>org.apache.derby</groupId>
 			<artifactId>com.springsource.org.apache.derby</artifactId>
+			<optional>true</optional>
+			<scope>runtime</scope>
 		</dependency>
 		<dependency>
 			<groupId>net.sourceforge.jtds</groupId>