diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 1b6f2d6b7..f36883ca7 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -83,10 +83,10 @@ subprojects {
 tasks {
     register("downloadProbe") {
         doLast {
-            val f = File(projectDir, "test/e2e/spp-probe-$projectVersion.jar")
+            val f = File(projectDir, "test/e2e/spp-probe-0.4.4.jar")
             if (!f.exists()) {
                 println("Downloading Source++ JVM probe")
-                java.net.URL("https://github.com/sourceplusplus/probe-jvm/releases/download/$projectVersion/spp-probe-$projectVersion.jar")
+                java.net.URL("https://github.com/sourceplusplus/probe-jvm/releases/download/0.4.4/spp-probe-0.4.4.jar")
                     .openStream().use { input ->
                         java.io.FileOutputStream(f).use { output ->
                             input.copyTo(output)
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 070f00a12..6c43a6b45 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ kotlin.code.style=official
 
 pluginGroup = spp.jetbrains
 pluginName = Source++
-projectVersion=0.4.4
+projectVersion=0.4.5
 pluginSinceBuild = 202.4357
 # Plugin Verifier integration -> https://github.com/JetBrains/gradle-intellij-plugin#plugin-verifier-dsl
 # See https://jb.gg/intellij-platform-builds-list for available build versions
diff --git a/marker/build.gradle.kts b/marker/build.gradle.kts
index b72d62368..bbf72460e 100644
--- a/marker/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/marker/build.gradle.kts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ dependencies {
     val intellijVersion = "213.7172.25"
 
     compileOnly("org.jooq:joor:$joorVersion")
-    compileOnly("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:$projectVersion")
+    compileOnly("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:0.4.4")
     compileOnly("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-core:$kotlinVersion")
     compileOnly("org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib-jdk8")
     compileOnly("com.google.guava:guava:31.1-jre")
diff --git a/marker/jvm-marker/build.gradle.kts b/marker/jvm-marker/build.gradle.kts
index 86ddb179b..e15433649 100644
--- a/marker/jvm-marker/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/marker/jvm-marker/build.gradle.kts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ dependencies {
         compileOnly(project(":marker"))
         compileOnly(project(":monitor"))
     }
-    compileOnly("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:$projectVersion")
+    compileOnly("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:0.4.4")
     val intellijVersion = "213.7172.25"
 
     implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-core:$kotlinVersion")
diff --git a/marker/py-marker/build.gradle.kts b/marker/py-marker/build.gradle.kts
index 6c8bd66a3..3f1da3eae 100644
--- a/marker/py-marker/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/marker/py-marker/build.gradle.kts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ dependencies {
     } else {
         compileOnly(project(":marker"))
     }
-    compileOnly("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:$projectVersion")
+    compileOnly("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:0.4.4")
     val intellijVersion = "213.7172.25"
 
     implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-core:$kotlinVersion")
diff --git a/monitor/build.gradle.kts b/monitor/build.gradle.kts
index 5b090150c..b7d933cac 100644
--- a/monitor/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/monitor/build.gradle.kts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ val projectVersion: String by project
 val slf4jVersion: String by project
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:$projectVersion")
+    implementation("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:0.4.4")
     implementation("org.slf4j:slf4j-api:$slf4jVersion")
     implementation("com.apollographql.apollo3:apollo-runtime:$apolloVersion")
     api("com.apollographql.apollo3:apollo-api:$apolloVersion")
diff --git a/plugin/build.gradle.kts b/plugin/build.gradle.kts
index f02d95215..b881cabf8 100644
--- a/plugin/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/plugin/build.gradle.kts
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ dependencies {
         implementation(project(":marker:jvm-marker"))
         implementation(project(":marker:py-marker"))
         implementation(project(":monitor"))
-        implementation("com.github.sourceplusplus.interface-portal:portal-jvm:$projectVersion") { isTransitive = false }
-        implementation("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:$projectVersion")
+        implementation("com.github.sourceplusplus.interface-portal:portal-jvm:0.4.4") { isTransitive = false }
+        implementation("com.github.sourceplusplus.protocol:protocol:0.4.4")
     }
 
     implementation("org.jooq:joor:$joorVersion")
diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/spp/jetbrains/sourcemarker/settings/PluginConfigurationPanel.java b/plugin/src/main/java/spp/jetbrains/sourcemarker/settings/PluginConfigurationPanel.java
index a91401675..4951fe8c2 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/spp/jetbrains/sourcemarker/settings/PluginConfigurationPanel.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/spp/jetbrains/sourcemarker/settings/PluginConfigurationPanel.java
@@ -46,17 +46,20 @@ public PluginConfigurationPanel(SourceMarkerConfig config) {
         myServiceSettingsPanel.setBorder(IdeBorderFactory.createTitledBorder(message("service_settings")));
         myGlobalSettingsPanel.setBorder(IdeBorderFactory.createTitledBorder(message("plugin_settings")));
 
-        INSTANCE.getLiveService().getServices().onComplete(it -> {
-            if (it.succeeded()) {
-                it.result().forEach(service -> serviceComboBox.addItem(service.getName()));
-
-                if (config.getServiceName() != null) {
-                    serviceComboBox.setSelectedItem(config.getServiceName());
+        //todo: properly ensure live service can never be null
+        if (INSTANCE.getLiveService() != null) {
+            INSTANCE.getLiveService().getServices().onComplete(it -> {
+                if (it.succeeded()) {
+                    it.result().forEach(service -> serviceComboBox.addItem(service.getName()));
+
+                    if (config.getServiceName() != null) {
+                        serviceComboBox.setSelectedItem(config.getServiceName());
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    it.cause().printStackTrace();
                 }
-            } else {
-                it.cause().printStackTrace();
-            }
-        });
+            });
+        }
     }
 
     public JComponent getContentPane() {