diff --git a/ci.hocon b/ci.hocon
index 780cb5503c0e269c79454d60646b3a993edb2045..05958d74c4ddc8264610f7741ba0349fb9152534 100644
--- a/ci.hocon
+++ b/ci.hocon
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ common : ${java8Downloads} ${packagesLinux}  {
 # the "mx" tool. This defines a common prefix for all gate commands. The "-t"
 # arg indicates the exact set of gate "tasks" that will be run.
 
-gateCmd : ["mx", "--strict-compliance", "rgate", "--strict-mode", "-t"]
+gateCmd : ["mx", "--strict-compliance", "rgate", "-B=--force-deprecation-as-warning", "--strict-mode", "-t"]
 
 # currently disabled gate commands: FindBugs,Checkheaders,Distribution Overlap Check