diff --git a/plugin-sample/src/main/java/net/kemitix/checkstyle/sample/Sample.java b/plugin-sample/src/main/java/net/kemitix/checkstyle/sample/Sample.java
index 9f7eaba..55b178e 100644
--- a/plugin-sample/src/main/java/net/kemitix/checkstyle/sample/Sample.java
+++ b/plugin-sample/src/main/java/net/kemitix/checkstyle/sample/Sample.java
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ package net.kemitix.checkstyle.sample;
 /**
  * Sample class to test the Kemitix Checkstyle Ruleset Maven Plugin against.
  *
+ * <p>This sample is deliberately only valid for level 1-layout and 2-naming. The plugin should report errors for levels
+ * 3-javadoc and above.</p>
+ *
  * @author Paul Campbell (paul.campbell@hubio.com)
  */
 public class Sample {
diff --git a/plugin/pom.xml b/plugin/pom.xml
index eb53577..c9fb04c 100644
--- a/plugin/pom.xml
+++ b/plugin/pom.xml
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@
         <mojo-executor.version>2.2.0</mojo-executor.version>
         <lombok.version>1.16.12</lombok.version>
         <map-builder.version>1.0.0</map-builder.version>
+
+        <properties-maven-plugin.version>1.0.0</properties-maven-plugin.version>
+        <maven-checkstyle-plugin.version>2.17</maven-checkstyle-plugin.version>
+        <checkstyle.version>7.5.1</checkstyle.version>
+        <sevntu.version>1.23.0</sevntu.version>
     </properties>
 
     <dependencies>
@@ -96,6 +101,34 @@
                     <target>1.8</target>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin><!-- maven-compiler-plugin -->
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+                <artifactId>properties-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>${properties-maven-plugin.version}</version>
+                <executions>
+                    <execution>
+                        <goals>
+                            <goal>set-system-properties</goal>
+                        </goals>
+                        <configuration>
+                            <properties>
+                                <property>
+                                    <name>maven-checkstyle-plugin.version</name>
+                                    <value>${maven-checkstyle-plugin.version}</value>
+                                </property>
+                                <property>
+                                    <name>checkstyle.version</name>
+                                    <value>${checkstyle.version}</value>
+                                </property>
+                                <property>
+                                    <name>sevntu.version</name>
+                                    <value>${sevntu.version}</value>
+                                </property>
+                            </properties>
+                        </configuration>
+                    </execution>
+                </executions>
+            </plugin><!-- properties-maven-plugin -->
         </plugins>
     </build>
     <profiles>
diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/net/kemitix/checkstyle/ruleset/plugin/AbstractCheckMojo.java b/plugin/src/main/java/net/kemitix/checkstyle/ruleset/plugin/AbstractCheckMojo.java
index fabc414..fbb72f1 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/net/kemitix/checkstyle/ruleset/plugin/AbstractCheckMojo.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/net/kemitix/checkstyle/ruleset/plugin/AbstractCheckMojo.java
@@ -62,19 +62,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractCheckMojo extends AbstractMojo {
     private static final String CONFIG_LOCATION = "configLocation";
 
     @Setter
-    @Parameter(defaultValue = "2.17")
-    private String mavenCheckstylePluginVersion;
-
-    @Setter
-    @Parameter(defaultValue = "7.4")
-    private String checkstyleVersion;
-
-    @Setter
-    @Parameter(defaultValue = "1.23.0")
-    private String sevntuVersion;
-
-    @Setter
-    @Parameter(defaultValue = "2.1.0-SNAPSHOT")
+    @Parameter(defaultValue = "${project.version}")
     private String rulesetVersion;
 
     @Setter
@@ -97,6 +85,12 @@ public abstract class AbstractCheckMojo extends AbstractMojo {
      * @throws MojoFailureException   on execution failure
      */
     protected final void performCheck(final String level) throws MojoExecutionException, MojoFailureException {
+        // load versions from plugin's pom.xml
+        val properties = System.getProperties();
+        val mavenCheckstylePluginVersion = properties.getProperty("maven-checkstyle-plugin.version");
+        val checkstyleVersion = properties.getProperty("checkstyle.version");
+        val sevntuVersion = properties.getProperty("sevntu.version");
+
         val checkstyle = MojoExecutor.dependency(CHECKSTYLE_GROUPID, CHECKSTYLE_ARTIFACTID, checkstyleVersion);
         val sevntu = MojoExecutor.dependency(SEVNTU_GROUPID, SEVNTU_ARTIFACTID, sevntuVersion);
         val ruleset = MojoExecutor.dependency(KEMITIX_GROUPID, KEMITIX_ARTIFACTID, rulesetVersion);
@@ -107,8 +101,9 @@ public abstract class AbstractCheckMojo extends AbstractMojo {
         val configLocation =
                 MojoExecutor.element(CONFIG_LOCATION, String.format("net/kemitix/checkstyle-%s.xml", level));
 
-        getLog().info(
-                String.format("Running Checkstyle %s (sevntu: %s) with %s", checkstyleVersion, sevntuVersion, level));
+        getLog().info(String.format("Running Checkstyle %s (sevntu: %s) with ruleset %s (%s)", checkstyleVersion,
+                                    sevntuVersion, level, rulesetVersion
+                                   ));
         MojoExecutor.executeMojo(checkstylePlugin, "check", MojoExecutor.configuration(configLocation),
                                  MojoExecutor.executionEnvironment(mavenProject, mavenSession, pluginManager)
                                 );