diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index b2222a7b..55ed0a19 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -57,6 +57,14 @@ runs {
 // Include resources generated by data generators.
 sourceSets.main.resources { srcDir 'src/generated/resources' }
 
+// Sets up a dependency configuration called 'localRuntime'.
+// This configuration should be used instead of 'runtimeOnly' to declare
+// a dependency that will be present for runtime testing but that is
+// "optional", meaning it will not be pulled by dependents of this mod.
+configurations {
+    runtimeClasspath.extendsFrom localRuntime
+}
+
 repositories {
     maven {
         url = "https://maven.blamejared.com"
@@ -85,7 +93,7 @@ dependencies {
     compileOnly "mezz.jei:jei-${mc_version}-common-api:${jei_version}"
     compileOnly "mezz.jei:jei-${mc_version}-neoforge-api:${jei_version}"
 
-    runtimeOnly "mezz.jei:jei-${mc_version}-neoforge:${jei_version}"
+    localRuntime "mezz.jei:jei-${mc_version}-neoforge:${jei_version}"
 
     compileOnly "me.shedaniel.cloth:cloth-config-neoforge:${cloth_config_version}"
     compileOnly "dev.architectury:architectury-neoforge:${architectury_version}"