diff --git a/common.gradle b/common.gradle
index b6b0b2579..f233f1971 100644
--- a/common.gradle
+++ b/common.gradle
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def pomConfig = {
     name POM_NAME
     description POM_DESCRIPTION
     url POM_URL
-    inceptionYear '2016'
+    inceptionYear POM_INCEPTION_YEAR
     scm {
         url POM_SCM_URL
         connection POM_SCM_CONNECTION
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 51f0a0f47..e5903cec9 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ POM_SCM_DEVELOPER_CONNECTION=scm:git:git@github.com:jMonkeyEngine/jmonkeyengine.
 POM_LICENSE_NAME=New BSD (3-clause) License
 POM_LICENSE_URL=http://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause
 POM_LICENSE_DISTRIBUTION=repo
+POM_INCEPTION_YEAR=2009
 
 # Bintray settings to override in $HOME/.gradle/gradle.properties or ENV or commandline
 bintray_user=