diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 7bf20d2..2e820a8 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
 apply plugin: VirgoToolsPlugin
 
 ext {
-    aspectjVersion = "1.9.3"
-
     javaProjects = [
             project(':nano:org.eclipse.virgo.nano.authentication'),
             project(':nano:org.eclipse.virgo.nano.shutdown'),
@@ -418,23 +416,6 @@
     }
 }
 
-configure(aspectjProjects) {
-    configurations {
-        ajtools {
-            transitive = false
-            description = "AspectJ tools runtime"
-        }
-    }
-
-    apply plugin: AspectJPlugin
-
-    dependencies {
-        implementation "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${aspectjVersion}"
-
-        ajtools "org.aspectj:aspectjtools:${aspectjVersion}"
-    }
-}
-
 configure(javaProjects + osgiProjects) {
     assemble.doLast {
         println '|--> Assembled Jar File: ' + jar.archivePath
@@ -562,6 +543,9 @@
             dependency "javax.servlet.jsp:javax.servlet.jsp-api:${javaxServletJspVersion}"
             dependency "javax.servlet.jsp.jstl:javax.servlet.jsp.jstl-api:${javaxServletJspJstlVersion}"
 
+            dependency "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${aspectjVersion}" // used by AspectJ compiler
+            dependency "org.aspectj:aspectjtools:${aspectjVersion}" // used by AspectJ compiler -> configuration ajtools
+
             dependencySet(group:'org.springframework', version: springframeworkVersion) {
                 entry 'spring-aspects'
                 entry 'spring-aop'
@@ -677,8 +661,19 @@
 }
 
 configure(aspectjProjects) {
-    configurations.compile.dependencies.each { dep ->
+    configurations {
+        ajtools {
+            transitive = false
+            description = "AspectJ tools runtime"
+        }
+    }
+
+    apply plugin: AspectJPlugin
+
+    configurations.compile.dependencies.each { Dependency dep ->
+        println dep.class
         if (dep.hasProperty("dependencyProject")) {
+            println "Has property dependencyProject" + dep.class
             println "dependent project: ${dep}"
             iajcClasspath += ":" + dep.dependencyProject.buildDir + "/bundles/release/classes.jar"
         } else {
@@ -704,11 +699,10 @@
     }
 
     dependencies {
-        compile "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
-        ajtools "org.aspectj:aspectjtools:${project.aspectjVersion}"
-    }
+        implementation 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
-    apply plugin: AspectJPlugin
+        ajtools 'org.aspectj:aspectjtools'
+    }
 
     // Add nature and buildCommand
     eclipse.project {
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 70eac2f..b840f2d 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -305,7 +305,8 @@
 # CQ 13683
 jolokiaVersion = 1.3.6
 
-aspectjVersion = 1.8.10
+aspectjVersion = 1.9.3
+# TODO - may be outdated - 1.8.x
 aspectjHash = 1a14fe9e912f6e8bdbb5429b78b4090d8b47bc1
 
 jettyVersion = 8.1.16.v20140903
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.agent.dm/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.agent.dm/build.gradle
index 11a2647..5bd6b9c 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.agent.dm/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.agent.dm/build.gradle
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 dependencies {
     testCompile project(':test:org.eclipse.virgo.test.stubs')
 
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntime 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi.services", version: osgiServicesVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer.dm/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer.dm/build.gradle
index 5d38dae..18eaa8b 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer.dm/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer.dm/build.gradle
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
     testCompile project(':medic:org.eclipse.virgo.medic.test')
     testCompile project(':test:org.eclipse.virgo.test.stubs')
 
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntime 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
 
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer.test/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer.test/build.gradle
index e386158..22b3d95 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer.test/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer.test/build.gradle
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     // some the libraries are used by configuration items during integration tests -> testRuntime
     // @see org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregion.properties and others
     testRuntimeOnly 'org.slf4j:jcl-over-slf4j'
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntimeOnly 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     testCompile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
     testCompile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi.services", version: osgiServicesVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer/build.gradle
index 5ee8f5f..22bf143 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.deployer/build.gradle
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
     testCompile project(':medic:org.eclipse.virgo.medic.test')
     testCompile project(':test:org.eclipse.virgo.test.stubs')
 
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntime 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
     testRuntime group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.equinox.region", version: equinoxRegionVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
 
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.equinox.extensions/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.equinox.extensions/build.gradle
index b5e5253..9f408c6 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.equinox.extensions/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.equinox.extensions/build.gradle
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 dependencies {
     testCompile project(':test:org.eclipse.virgo.test.stubs')
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntime 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
 }
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.services/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.services/build.gradle
index c27f917..ad27767 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.services/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.services/build.gradle
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     testCompile project(':test:org.eclipse.virgo.test.stubs')
     testCompile project(':medic:org.eclipse.virgo.medic.test')
 
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntime 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
 
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.test/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.test/build.gradle
index d8125f1..07e3f03 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.test/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.test/build.gradle
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
     testImplementation 'org.springframework:spring-context'
 
-    testRuntimeOnly "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntimeOnly 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     testCompile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
     testCompile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi.services", version: osgiServicesVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregion/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregion/build.gradle
index e0ab0c6..3e38869 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregion/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregion/build.gradle
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 
     testImplementation 'org.springframework:spring-beans'
     testImplementation 'org.springframework:spring-core'
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
-
     testRuntimeOnly 'org.slf4j:slf4j-nop' // used in EquinoxOsgiFrameworkTests
+    testRuntimeOnly 'org.slf4j:jcl-over-slf4j'
+    testRuntimeOnly 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi.services", version: osgiServicesVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregionfactory/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregionfactory/build.gradle
index 697c338..bd9be46 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregionfactory/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.kernel.userregionfactory/build.gradle
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 dependencies {
     testCompile project(':test:org.eclipse.virgo.test.stubs')
 
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntime 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi.services", version: osgiServicesVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
diff --git a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.shell.command/build.gradle b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.shell.command/build.gradle
index 269e61f..84824d4 100644
--- a/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.shell.command/build.gradle
+++ b/kernel/org.eclipse.virgo.shell.command/build.gradle
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
     testImplementation 'org.slf4j:slf4j-nop'
     testCompile project(':test:org.eclipse.virgo.test.stubs')
 
-    testRuntime "org.aspectj:aspectjrt:${project.aspectjVersion}"
+    testRuntime 'org.aspectj:aspectjrt'
 
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi", version: equinoxVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"
     compile group: "org.eclipse.virgo.mirrored", name: "org.eclipse.osgi.services", version: osgiServicesVersion, configuration: "compile", ext: "jar"