diff --git a/exercises/build.gradle b/exercises/build.gradle
index 734815214..c35dc4fc1 100644
--- a/exercises/build.gradle
+++ b/exercises/build.gradle
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ subprojects {
     // configuration of the linter
     checkstyle {
       toolVersion '10.7.0'
-      configFile file("checkstyle.xml")
+      configFile file("$rootDir/checkstyle.xml")
       sourceSets = [project.sourceSets.main, project.sourceSets.test]
     }