diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 29f9e510..5fe8e444 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@
             <version>5.7.0</version>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
+        <dependency><!-- override the version under cloudant-client -->
+            <groupId>commons-codec</groupId>
+            <artifactId>commons-codec</artifactId>
+            <version>1.14</version>
+        </dependency>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>com.cloudant</groupId>
             <artifactId>cloudant-client</artifactId>