diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 7277046ec..3f66b04c1 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ subprojects {
         apply plugin: "java-library"
     }
 
+    project(":polaris-eclipselink") {
+        apply plugin: "java-library"
+    }
+
     dependencies {
         implementation(platform(libs.jackson.bom))
         implementation("com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-annotations")
diff --git a/extension/persistence/eclipselink/build.gradle b/extension/persistence/eclipselink/build.gradle
index 69f165e0a..91fb0c9c7 100644
--- a/extension/persistence/eclipselink/build.gradle
+++ b/extension/persistence/eclipselink/build.gradle
@@ -16,10 +16,11 @@
 
 dependencies {
     implementation(project(":polaris-core"))
-    implementation(project(":polaris-service"))
+    runtimeOnly(project(":polaris-service"))
     implementation(libs.eclipselink)
     implementation(platform(libs.dropwizard.bom))
     implementation("io.dropwizard:dropwizard-jackson")
+    implementation(libs.h2) // Different dependencies will be needed for different backend databases
 
     testImplementation(libs.h2)
     testImplementation(testFixtures(project(":polaris-core")))
diff --git a/polaris-server.yml b/polaris-server.yml
index 886221937..cdfeb7027 100644
--- a/polaris-server.yml
+++ b/polaris-server.yml
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ defaultRealms:
 
 metaStoreManager:
   type: in-memory
+  # type: eclipse-link # uncomment to use eclipse-link as metastore
+  # persistence-unit: polaris-dev
 
 # TODO - avoid duplicating token broker config
 oauth2:
diff --git a/polaris-service/build.gradle b/polaris-service/build.gradle
index 16c3e6951..37106acd8 100644
--- a/polaris-service/build.gradle
+++ b/polaris-service/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ plugins {
 
 dependencies {
     implementation(project(":polaris-core"))
-
+    implementation(project(":polaris-eclipselink"))
+    
     implementation(platform(libs.iceberg.bom))
     implementation("org.apache.iceberg:iceberg-api")
     implementation("org.apache.iceberg:iceberg-core")