diff --git a/tools/build/setnextversion.sh b/tools/build/setnextversion.sh
index 3b31ea915e7..8d8037c5e5b 100755
--- a/tools/build/setnextversion.sh
+++ b/tools/build/setnextversion.sh
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ echo "checking out correct branch"
 git checkout $branch
 
 echo "determining current POM version"
-export currentversion=`mvn org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-help-plugin:2.1.1:evaluate -Dexpression=project.version | grep -v '\['`
+export currentversion=`mvn org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-help-plugin:2.1.1:evaluate -Dexpression=project.version -B | grep -v '\['`
 echo "found $currentversion"
 
 echo "setting new version numbers"