diff --git a/common/logging/build.gradle b/common/logging/build.gradle
index b2bcd61e01..91770cbabe 100644
--- a/common/logging/build.gradle
+++ b/common/logging/build.gradle
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-apply plugin: 'kotlin'
+import org.apache.tools.ant.filters.ReplaceTokens
 
+apply plugin: 'kotlin'
 apply plugin: 'net.corda.plugins.publish-utils'
 apply plugin: 'com.jfrog.artifactory'
 
@@ -17,6 +18,14 @@ dependencies {
     testCompile project(":test-utils")
 }
 
+
+task generateSource(type: Copy) {
+    from 'src/main/template'
+    filter(ReplaceTokens, tokens: [corda_release_version: corda_release_version])
+    into 'src/main'
+}
+compileKotlin.dependsOn generateSource
+
 jar {
     baseName 'corda-common-logging'
 }
diff --git a/common/logging/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/Constants.kt b/common/logging/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/Constants.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d53dfcfaa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/logging/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/Constants.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+@file:JvmName("Constants")
+
+package net.corda.common.logging
+
+/**
+ * constants in this file are generated by gradle
+ * to change this file, edit src/main/template/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/Constants.kt
+ * the generated file does not need to be committed to source control (originally added to source control for ease of use)
+ */
+
+internal const val CURRENT_MAJOR_RELEASE = "5.0-SNAPSHOT"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common/logging/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/CordaVersion.kt b/common/logging/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/CordaVersion.kt
index caac7faf72..083f0a078a 100644
--- a/common/logging/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/CordaVersion.kt
+++ b/common/logging/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/CordaVersion.kt
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import com.jcabi.manifests.Manifests
 class CordaVersion  {
     companion object {
         private const val UNKNOWN = "Unknown"
-        const val current_major_release = "4.0-SNAPSHOT"
         const val platformEditionCode = "OS"
 
         private fun manifestValue(name: String): String? = if (Manifests.exists(name)) Manifests.read(name) else null
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@ class CordaVersion  {
         val vendor: String by lazy { manifestValue("Corda-Vendor") ?: UNKNOWN }
         val platformVersion: Int by lazy { manifestValue("Corda-Platform-Version")?.toInt() ?: 1 }
 
-        internal val semanticVersion: String by lazy { if(releaseVersion == UNKNOWN) current_major_release else releaseVersion }
+        internal val semanticVersion: String by lazy { if(releaseVersion == UNKNOWN) CURRENT_MAJOR_RELEASE else releaseVersion }
     }
 
     fun getVersion(): Array<String> {
diff --git a/common/logging/src/main/template/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/Constants.kt b/common/logging/src/main/template/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/Constants.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19f2cb8651
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/logging/src/main/template/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/Constants.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+@file:JvmName("Constants")
+
+package net.corda.common.logging
+
+/**
+ * constants in this file are generated by gradle
+ * to change this file, edit src/main/template/kotlin/net/corda/common/logging/Constants.kt
+ * the generated file does not need to be committed to source control (originally added to source control for ease of use)
+ */
+
+internal const val CURRENT_MAJOR_RELEASE = "@corda_release_version@"
\ No newline at end of file