diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index e2c395b3..6cc6966b 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -28,9 +28,12 @@ subprojects {
   ext.scalaVersion = projectScalaVersion ? projectScalaVersion : properties.defaultScalaVersion
   ext.scalaSuffix = getScalaSuffix(ext.scalaVersion)
 
+  // Building with non-default protobuf version requires that proto files are re-compiled!
+  ext.projectProtobufVersion = properties.targetProtobufVersion ? properties.targetProtobufVersion : properties.defaultProtobufVersion
+
   ext.externalDependency = [
     'zookeeper':'org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper:3.3.4',
-    'protobuf':'com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java:2.4.0a',
+    'protobuf':"com.google.protobuf:protobuf-java:${ext.projectProtobufVersion}",
     'log4j':'log4j:log4j:1.2.17',
     'netty':'io.netty:netty:3.7.0.Final',
     'slf4jApi':'org.slf4j:slf4j-api:1.7.5',
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 0cfc53e2..7dfc75ab 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@ version=0.6.91
 defaultScalaVersion=2.10.3
 targetScalaVersions=2.10.3
 crossBuild=false
+defaultProtobufVersion=2.4.0a
+targetProtobufVersion=2.4.0a
diff --git a/network/src/main/scala/com/linkedin/norbert/network/util/ProtoUtils.scala b/network/src/main/scala/com/linkedin/norbert/network/util/ProtoUtils.scala
index 3148af81..5b326f51 100644
--- a/network/src/main/scala/com/linkedin/norbert/network/util/ProtoUtils.scala
+++ b/network/src/main/scala/com/linkedin/norbert/network/util/ProtoUtils.scala
@@ -12,8 +12,30 @@ import java.lang.reflect.{Field, Constructor}
  * to bypass those.
  */
 object ProtoUtils extends Logging {
+  private val ByteStringClass = classOf[ByteString]
+  // Protobuf 2.6 has protected class LiteralByteString
+  private val LiteralByteStringClass: Class[ByteString] = try {
+    val c = classOf[ByteString].getClassLoader().loadClass("com.google.protobuf.LiteralByteString")
+    c match {
+      case c2: Class[ByteString] => c2
+      case _ => throw new ClassCastException
+    }
+  } catch {
+    case ex: ClassNotFoundException => null
+    case ex: Exception =>
+      log.warn(ex, "Cannot eliminate a copy when converting a byte[] to a ByteString, failed to find LiteralByteString")
+      null
+  }
+
   private val byteStringConstructor: Constructor[ByteString] = try {
-    val c = classOf[ByteString].getDeclaredConstructor(classOf[Array[Byte]])
+    var c:Constructor[ByteString] = null
+    if(LiteralByteStringClass != null) {
+      // Protobuf 2.6
+      c = LiteralByteStringClass.getDeclaredConstructor(classOf[Array[Byte]])
+    }else{
+      // Protobuf 2.4
+      c = classOf[ByteString].getDeclaredConstructor(classOf[Array[Byte]])
+    }
     c.setAccessible(true)
     c
   } catch {
@@ -23,7 +45,14 @@ object ProtoUtils extends Logging {
   }
 
   private val byteStringField: Field = try {
-    val f = classOf[ByteString].getDeclaredField("bytes")
+    var f:Field = null
+    if(LiteralByteStringClass != null) {
+      // Protobuf 2.6
+      f = LiteralByteStringClass.getDeclaredField("bytes")
+    }else{
+      // Protobuf 2.4
+      f = classOf[ByteString].getDeclaredField("bytes")
+    }
     f.setAccessible(true)
     f
   } catch {
@@ -66,7 +95,15 @@ object ProtoUtils extends Logging {
   private final def fastByteStringToByteArray(byteString: ByteString): Array[Byte] = {
     if(byteStringField != null)
       try {
-        byteStringField.get(byteString).asInstanceOf[Array[Byte]]
+        byteString.getClass() match {
+          case ByteStringClass | LiteralByteStringClass =>
+            // Protobuf 2.4 uses plain ByteString. 2.6 uses LiterealByteString (LiteralByteStringClass is null if 2.4 is used)
+            byteStringField.get(byteString).asInstanceOf[Array[Byte]]
+          case _ =>
+            // 2.6 may use "RopeByteString" too.. Not sure if we would actually see that anytime, but warn and use regular method if so.
+            log.warn("Encountered ByteString of class " + byteString.getClass().getName()+", falling back to safe method")
+            slowByteStringToByteArray(byteString)
+        }
       } catch {
         case ex: Exception =>
           log.warn(ex, "Encountered exception accessing the private ByteString bytes field, falling back to safe method")
@@ -79,4 +116,4 @@ object ProtoUtils extends Logging {
   private final def slowByteStringToByteArray(byteString: ByteString): Array[Byte] = {
     byteString.toByteArray
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}