diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 8542aa7..0ef1ff1 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -58,20 +58,22 @@ limitations under the License.
   <properties>
     <javaVersion>17</javaVersion>
     <jmhVersion>1.37</jmhVersion>
+    <mavenXmlVersion>4.0.0-rc-6</mavenXmlVersion>
     <project.build.outputTimestamp>2026-01-25T22:28:22Z</project.build.outputTimestamp>
   </properties>
 
   <dependencies>
+    <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.apache.maven</groupId>
+      <artifactId>maven-api-xml</artifactId>
+      <version>${mavenXmlVersion}</version>
+    </dependency>
+    <!-- XmlService resolves its implementation through ServiceLoader; nothing here compiles against it. -->
     <dependency>
       <groupId>org.apache.maven</groupId>
       <artifactId>maven-xml</artifactId>
-      <version>4.0.0-rc-6</version>
-      <exclusions>
-        <exclusion>
-          <groupId>org.eclipse.sisu</groupId>
-          <artifactId>org.eclipse.sisu.plexus</artifactId>
-        </exclusion>
-      </exclusions>
+      <version>${mavenXmlVersion}</version>
+      <scope>runtime</scope>
     </dependency>
     <dependency>
       <groupId>org.openjdk.jmh</groupId>