diff --git a/protocols/p4runtime/proto/pom.xml b/protocols/p4runtime/proto/pom.xml
index f1d656fb..67a26ea6 100644
--- a/protocols/p4runtime/proto/pom.xml
+++ b/protocols/p4runtime/proto/pom.xml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     <description>ONOS P4Runtime Proto</description>
 
     <properties>
-        <protobuf.version>3.0.2</protobuf.version>
+        <protobuf.version>3.16.3</protobuf.version>
         <piCommit>a8814a8ac40838a9df83fe47a17a025b69026fcf</piCommit>
         <piBaseUrl>https://github.com/p4lang/PI.git</piBaseUrl>
     </properties>