diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 229a1cc6..ba90fe26 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ springVersion = 3.1.2.RELEASE
 springDataCommonsVersion = 1.4.0.M1
 #Temporary until release of 7.0
 gemfireVersion = 7.0-beta
+gemfireVersion6x = 6.6.3
 
 # Testing
 junitVersion = 4.8.1
diff --git a/maven.gradle b/maven.gradle
index 62d3ff9b..67a08939 100644
--- a/maven.gradle
+++ b/maven.gradle
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ def customizePom(pom, gradleProject) {
         generatedPom.dependencies.removeAll { dep ->
             dep.scope == 'test'
         }
+        
+        generatedPom.dependencies.find { dep -> dep.groupId == 'com.gemstone.gemfire' && dep.artifactId == 'gemfire' }.version = "$gemfireVersion6x"
 
         // add all items necessary for maven central publication
         generatedPom.project {