diff --git a/dependency-check-maven/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/maven/DependencyCheckMojo.java b/dependency-check-maven/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/maven/DependencyCheckMojo.java
index a627f20a8..23e45f7a1 100644
--- a/dependency-check-maven/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/maven/DependencyCheckMojo.java
+++ b/dependency-check-maven/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/maven/DependencyCheckMojo.java
@@ -284,7 +284,15 @@ public class DependencyCheckMojo extends ReportAggregationMojo {
     @Parameter(property = "proxyUrl", defaultValue = "", required = false)
     @Deprecated
     private String proxyUrl = null;
-
+    /**
+     * Sets whether or not the external report format should be used.
+     *
+     * @deprecated the internal report is no longer supported
+     */
+    @SuppressWarnings({"CanBeFinal"})
+    @Parameter(property = "externalReport")
+    @Deprecated
+    private String externalReport = null;
     // </editor-fold>
     /**
      * Constructs a new dependency-check-mojo.
@@ -383,11 +391,13 @@ public class DependencyCheckMojo extends ReportAggregationMojo {
         }
 
         Settings.setBoolean(Settings.KEYS.AUTO_UPDATE, autoUpdate);
+        if (externalReport != null) {
+            LOGGER.warning("The 'externalReport' option was set; this configuration option has been removed. Please update the dependency-check-maven plugin's configuration");
+        }
 
         if (proxyUrl != null && !proxyUrl.isEmpty()) {
             LOGGER.warning("Deprecated configuration detected, proxyUrl will be ignored; use the maven settings to configure the proxy instead");
         }
-
         final Proxy proxy = getMavenProxy();
         if (proxy != null) {
             Settings.setString(Settings.KEYS.PROXY_SERVER, proxy.getHost());