diff --git a/.mergify.yml b/.mergify.yml
index ff95d1a..f9b20e7 100644
--- a/.mergify.yml
+++ b/.mergify.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ pull_request_rules:
     actions:
       merge:
         method: merge
-        strict: smart
 
   - name: backport patches to 1.4.x branch
     conditions:
diff --git a/project/build.properties b/project/build.properties
index e64c208..3161d21 100644
--- a/project/build.properties
+++ b/project/build.properties
@@ -1 +1 @@
-sbt.version=1.5.8
+sbt.version=1.6.1
diff --git a/src/main/scala/interplay/PlaySbtBuildBase.scala b/src/main/scala/interplay/PlaySbtBuildBase.scala
index e812a0e..a805384 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/interplay/PlaySbtBuildBase.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/interplay/PlaySbtBuildBase.scala
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ private[interplay] object PlaySbtBuildBase extends AutoPlugin {
   override def projectSettings = Seq(
     scalaVersion := ScalaVersions.scala212,
     crossScalaVersions := Seq(ScalaVersions.scala212),
-    pluginCrossBuild / sbtVersion := SbtVersions.sbt15,
+    pluginCrossBuild / sbtVersion := SbtVersions.sbt16,
     compile / javacOptions ++= Seq("-source", "1.8", "-target", "1.8"),
     doc / javacOptions := Seq("-source", "1.8")
   )
diff --git a/src/main/scala/interplay/Versions.scala b/src/main/scala/interplay/Versions.scala
index 43f6d40..67a1ac8 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/interplay/Versions.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/interplay/Versions.scala
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ package interplay
 
 object ScalaVersions {
   val scala212 = "2.12.15"
-  val scala213 = "2.13.7"
+  val scala213 = "2.13.8"
   val scala3   = "3.1.0"
 }
 
 object SbtVersions {
-  val sbt15 = "1.5.8"
+  val sbt16 = "1.6.1"
 }