diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d1c8733..02e2e89 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ dependencies {
 Java 17 or higher is required to build the projects in this repository. The built artifacts can be
 used on Java 8 or higher.
 
+To use this artifact you must also depend on `io.opentelemetry:opentelemetry-api:{{version}}`.
+See [opentelemetry-java releases](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-java#releases) for
+more information.
+
 ## Generating semantic conventions
 
 Requires docker.
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 635a6ee..137c9ca 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -54,9 +54,12 @@ nexusPublishing {
   }
 }
 
+val opentelemetryJavaVersion = "1.31.0"
+
 dependencies {
-  implementation(platform("io.opentelemetry:opentelemetry-bom:1.31.0"))
-  implementation("io.opentelemetry:opentelemetry-api")
+  compileOnly("io.opentelemetry:opentelemetry-api:$opentelemetryJavaVersion")
+
+  testImplementation("io.opentelemetry:opentelemetry-api:$opentelemetryJavaVersion")
 
   testImplementation(platform("org.junit:junit-bom:5.10.0"))
   testImplementation("org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter-api")