diff --git a/emqx-plugin.template b/emqx-plugin.template
index 558ab624..cdff4a64 100644
--- a/emqx-plugin.template
+++ b/emqx-plugin.template
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     {description, "Another amazing EMQX plugin."},
     {version, "1.0.0", "The release version of this plugin."},
     {app_vsn, "0.1.0", "The erlang application vsn value."},
+    {emqx_vsn, "v5.1.4", "EMQX version to use as a dependency."},
     {license, "Apache-2.0", "Short identifier for license you want to distribute this plugin under."},
     {author_website, "http://example.com", "A website with details about the author."},
     {repo, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx-plugin-template", "Where to find the source code for this plugin."}
diff --git a/rebar_template.config b/rebar_template.config
index fb7cbf2b..0e2a8fa3 100644
--- a/rebar_template.config
+++ b/rebar_template.config
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 {deps,
     [ %% not all plugins have to depend on emqx
       %% but if they do, use git_subdir in the default profile
-      {emqx, {git_subdir, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx.git", {tag, "v5.1.3"}, "apps/emqx"}}
-    , {emqx_ctl, {git_subdir, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx.git", {tag, "v5.1.3"}, "apps/emqx_ctl"}}
-    , {emqx_utils, {git_subdir, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx.git", {tag, "v5.1.3"}, "apps/emqx_utils"}}
-    , {emqx_durable_storage, {git_subdir, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx.git", {tag, "v5.1.3"}, "apps/emqx_durable_storage"}}
+      {emqx, {git_subdir, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx.git", {tag, "@@emqx_vsn@@"}, "apps/emqx"}}
+    , {emqx_ctl, {git_subdir, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx.git", {tag, "@@emqx_vsn@@"}, "apps/emqx_ctl"}}
+    , {emqx_utils, {git_subdir, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx.git", {tag, "@@emqx_vsn@@"}, "apps/emqx_utils"}}
+    , {emqx_durable_storage, {git_subdir, "https://github.com/emqx/emqx.git", {tag, "@@emqx_vsn@@"}, "apps/emqx_durable_storage"}}
       %% this is my plugin's dependency
     , {map_sets, "1.1.0"}
     ]}.