diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index ece937d8d..d0d803fc3 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
         <project.reporting.outputEncoding>UTF-8</project.reporting.outputEncoding>
         <module-name>${groupId}.${artifactId}</module-name>
+        <io.cucumber.version>7.21.0</io.cucumber.version>
         <javadoc.failOnWarnings>true</javadoc.failOnWarnings>
         <!--  This is required for later correct replacement of surefireArgLine -->
         <!-- see surefire-java8 and surefire-java9+ profiles -->
@@ -189,21 +190,21 @@
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
             <artifactId>cucumber-java</artifactId>
-            <version>7.21.1</version>
+            <version>${io.cucumber.version}</version>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
 
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
             <artifactId>cucumber-junit-platform-engine</artifactId>
-            <version>7.21.1</version>
+            <version>${io.cucumber.version}</version>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
 
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.cucumber</groupId>
             <artifactId>cucumber-picocontainer</artifactId>
-            <version>7.21.1</version>
+            <version>${io.cucumber.version}</version>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>