diff --git a/src/main/groovy/com/google/protobuf/gradle/ProtobufPlugin.groovy b/src/main/groovy/com/google/protobuf/gradle/ProtobufPlugin.groovy
index 14f14082..8af2a72f 100644
--- a/src/main/groovy/com/google/protobuf/gradle/ProtobufPlugin.groovy
+++ b/src/main/groovy/com/google/protobuf/gradle/ProtobufPlugin.groovy
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class ProtobufPlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
       if (project.configurations.findByName(configName) == null) {
         project.configurations.create(configName) {
           visible = false
-          transitive = false
+          transitive = true
           extendsFrom = []
         }
       }