diff --git a/lib/Dist/Zilla/Plugin/MakeMaker.pm b/lib/Dist/Zilla/Plugin/MakeMaker.pm
index f498fc75e..6cf82ae85 100644
--- a/lib/Dist/Zilla/Plugin/MakeMaker.pm
+++ b/lib/Dist/Zilla/Plugin/MakeMaker.pm
@@ -36,8 +36,18 @@ use ExtUtils::MakeMaker {{ $eumm_version }};
 
 my {{ $WriteMakefileArgs }}
 
-delete $WriteMakefileArgs{BUILD_REQUIRES}
-  unless eval { ExtUtils::MakeMaker->VERSION(6.56) };
+unless ( eval { ExtUtils::MakeMaker->VERSION(6.56) } ) {
+  my $br = delete $WriteMakefileArgs{BUILD_REQUIRES};
+  my $pp = $WriteMakefileArgs{PREREQ_PM}; 
+  for my $mod ( keys %$br ) {
+    if ( exists $pp->{$mod} ) {
+      $pp->{$mod} = $br->{$mod} if $br->{$mod} > $pp->{$mod}; 
+    }
+    else {
+      $pp->{$mod} = $br->{$mod};
+    }
+  }
+}
 
 delete $WriteMakefileArgs{CONFIGURE_REQUIRES}
   unless eval { ExtUtils::MakeMaker->VERSION(6.52) };