diff --git a/gradle/java-publish.gradle b/gradle/java-publish.gradle
index 6502b6e7fc..29beac4452 100644
--- a/gradle/java-publish.gradle
+++ b/gradle/java-publish.gradle
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ def cred = {
 	}
 }
 
+final MAVEN_PLUGIN_ARTIFACT_NAME = 'spotless-maven-plugin'
+
 model {
 	publishing {
 		publications {
@@ -97,8 +99,12 @@ model {
 								distribution 'repo'
 							}
 						}
+						if (project.ext.artifactId == MAVEN_PLUGIN_ARTIFACT_NAME) {
+							// Maven plugin required Maven 3.1.0+ to run
+							prerequisites { maven '3.1.0' }
+						}
 						developers {
-							if (project.ext.artifactId == 'spotless-plugin-maven') {
+							if (project.ext.artifactId == MAVEN_PLUGIN_ARTIFACT_NAME) {
 								developer {
 									id 'lutovich'
 									name 'Konstantin Lutovich'
diff --git a/plugin-maven/CHANGES.md b/plugin-maven/CHANGES.md
index 55dd98bd0e..f2887909d1 100644
--- a/plugin-maven/CHANGES.md
+++ b/plugin-maven/CHANGES.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 * Skip `package-info.java` and `module-info.java` files from license header formatting. ([#273](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/273))
 * Updated JSR305 annotation from 3.0.0 to 3.0.2 ([#274](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/274))
 * Migrated from FindBugs annotations 3.0.0 to SpotBugs annotations 3.1.6 ([#274](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/274))
+* Fix Maven version prerequisite in the generated POM ([#289](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless/pull/289))
 
 ### Version 1.14.0 - July 24th 2018 ([javadoc](https://diffplug.github.io/spotless/javadoc/spotless-maven-plugin/1.14.0/), [jcenter](https://bintray.com/diffplug/opensource/spotless-maven-plugin/1.14.0))
 
diff --git a/plugin-maven/src/test/resources/pom-build.xml.mustache b/plugin-maven/src/test/resources/pom-build.xml.mustache
index 07d473fa94..3495ee8e68 100644
--- a/plugin-maven/src/test/resources/pom-build.xml.mustache
+++ b/plugin-maven/src/test/resources/pom-build.xml.mustache
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
   <name>Spotless Maven Plugin</name>
 
+  <!-- Require plugin to be built with Maven 3.1.0+ -->
   <prerequisites>
     <maven>3.1.0</maven>
   </prerequisites>
diff --git a/plugin-maven/src/test/resources/pom-test.xml.mustache b/plugin-maven/src/test/resources/pom-test.xml.mustache
index 26350411d5..b03c0b8205 100644
--- a/plugin-maven/src/test/resources/pom-test.xml.mustache
+++ b/plugin-maven/src/test/resources/pom-test.xml.mustache
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
 
     <name>Spotless Maven Plugin Tests</name>
 
+    <!-- Require plugin to be tested with Maven 3.1.0+ -->
+    <prerequisites>
+        <maven>3.1.0</maven>
+    </prerequisites>
+
     <properties>
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
         <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>