diff --git a/lib/java/gradle/publishing.gradle b/lib/java/gradle/publishing.gradle
index 029bff9..481fcbc 100644
--- a/lib/java/gradle/publishing.gradle
+++ b/lib/java/gradle/publishing.gradle
@@ -86,8 +86,10 @@
     pom.whenConfigured {
         // Fixup the scope for servlet-api to be 'provided' instead of 'compile'
         dependencies.find { dep -> dep.groupId == 'javax.servlet' && dep.artifactId == 'servlet-api' }.with {
-            // it.optional = true
-            it.scope = 'provided'
+            if(it != null) {
+              // it.optional = true
+              it.scope = 'provided'
+            }
         }
     }
 }