diff --git a/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index 85b9b3db1..5917d751c 100644
--- a/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ groovy = '3.0.21'
 java-baseline = '11'
 javax-annotation-api = '1.3.2'
 micronaut = '3.10.4'
+mongodb = '4.11.1'
 slf4j = '1.7.36'
 spock = '2.3-groovy-3.0'
 spring = '5.3.33'
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ groovy-json = { module = 'org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-json', version.ref = 'groov
 groovy-templates = { module = 'org.codehaus.groovy:groovy-templates', version.ref = 'groovy' }
 javax-annotation-api = { module = 'javax.annotation:javax.annotation-api', version.ref = 'javax-annotation-api' }
 micronaut-http-client = { module = 'io.micronaut:micronaut-http-client', version.ref = 'micronaut' }
+mongodb-bson = { module = 'org.mongodb:bson', version.ref = 'mongodb' }
 slf4j-api = { module = 'org.slf4j:slf4j-api', version.ref = 'slf4j' }
 slf4j-nop = { module = 'org.slf4j:slf4j-nop', version.ref = 'slf4j' }
 spock-core = { module = 'org.spockframework:spock-core', version.ref = 'spock' }
diff --git a/json-templates/build.gradle b/json-templates/build.gradle
index 241ffea1c..20ddb046e 100644
--- a/json-templates/build.gradle
+++ b/json-templates/build.gradle
@@ -12,11 +12,15 @@ dependencies {
 
     api project(':views-json')
 
-    // Should this be api, implementation, compileOnly or provided?
-    // The templates expect classes from this library as models
-    // but I'm not sure in what context these templates are used
-    // They were previously compileOnly
-    compileOnly libs.grails.datastore.gorm.mongodb
+    // The templates in this project use classes from these dependencies so they should be in the implementation configuration.
+    //
+    // But, setting them as implementation will make grails apps using this project try to autoconfigure MongoDB beans,
+    // even without the real MongoDB dependencies on the classpath, which fails with ClassNotFoundExeption.
+    //
+    // Therefore, because this project is only supposed to work with MongoDB, setting them as compileOnly/provided is
+    // probably best, as it will not break apps that erroneously include this project as a dependency but don't use MongoDB.
+    compileOnly libs.grails.datastore.gorm.mongodb // provided
+    compileOnly libs.mongodb.bson // provided
 
     compileOnly libs.slf4j.nop // Get rid of warning about missing slf4j implementation during compileGsonViews task
 }
@@ -52,4 +56,4 @@ apply from: rootProject.layout.projectDirectory.file('gradle/publishing.gradle')
 // This is a workaround as a javadoc jar is required for publishing.
 tasks.named('javadocJar', Jar) {
     from 'src/templates'
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file