diff --git a/bazel-java-deps.bzl b/bazel-java-deps.bzl
index 165ebd3efda3..e312e3d9adce 100644
--- a/bazel-java-deps.bzl
+++ b/bazel-java-deps.bzl
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def install_java_deps():
             "io.netty:netty-resolver:{}".format(netty_version),
             "io.netty:netty-tcnative-boringssl-static:{}".format(netty_tcnative_version),
             # protobuf
-            "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java:3.17.3",
+            "com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java:3.15.3",
             # scalapb
             "com.thesamet.scalapb:compilerplugin_{}:{}".format(scala_major_version, scalapb_version),
             "com.thesamet.scalapb:lenses_{}:{}".format(scala_major_version, scalapb_version),