diff --git a/build.sbt b/build.sbt
index 48fccce5..46d82c77 100644
--- a/build.sbt
+++ b/build.sbt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ val scala3 = "3.1.0"
 val scalaIdeaVersion = scala3 // the version for which to import sources into intellij
 
 val scalatestVersion = "3.2.10"
-val specs2Version = "4.15.0"
+val specs2Version = "4.16.0"
 val smlTaggingVersion = "2.3.3"
 
 lazy val commonSettings: Seq[Def.Setting[_]] = commonSmlBuildSettings ++ ossPublishSettings ++ Seq(