diff --git a/.idea/checkstyle-idea.xml b/.idea/checkstyle-idea.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95c433c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.idea/checkstyle-idea.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<project version="4">
+  <component name="CheckStyle-IDEA">
+    <option name="configuration">
+      <map>
+        <entry key="checkstyle-version" value="8.19" />
+        <entry key="copy-libs" value="true" />
+        <entry key="location-0" value="BUNDLED:(bundled):Sun Checks" />
+        <entry key="location-1" value="BUNDLED:(bundled):Google Checks" />
+        <entry key="scan-before-checkin" value="false" />
+        <entry key="scanscope" value="JavaOnly" />
+        <entry key="suppress-errors" value="false" />
+      </map>
+    </option>
+  </component>
+</project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 6c68d39..8839bbd 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -6,20 +6,20 @@ plugins {
     `maven-publish`
     jacoco
     id("com.github.ben-manes.versions") version "0.21.0"
-    id("com.gradle.build-scan") version "2.2.1"
+    id("com.gradle.build-scan") version "2.3"
     id("com.gradle.plugin-publish") version "0.10.1"
     id("io.gitlab.arturbosch.detekt") version "1.0.0-RC14"
-    id("org.jlleitschuh.gradle.ktlint") version "7.3.0"
-    id("org.sonarqube") version "2.7"
+    id("org.jmailen.kotlinter") version "1.25.2"
+    id("org.sonarqube") version "2.7.1"
 }
 
-version = "1.0.0"
+version = "1.0.1"
 group = "net.thauvin.erik.gradle"
 
 var github = "https://github.com/ethauvin/semver-gradle"
 var packageName = "net.thauvin.erik.gradle.semver"
 
-var spek_version = "2.0.2"
+var spek_version = "2.0.5"
 
 repositories {
     jcenter()
@@ -56,10 +56,6 @@ tasks {
         }
     }
 
-    "check" {
-        dependsOn("ktlintCheck")
-    }
-
     "sonarqube" {
         dependsOn("jacocoTestReport")
     }
@@ -81,6 +77,12 @@ detekt {
     baseline = project.rootDir.resolve("detekt-baseline.xml")
 }
 
+kotlinter {
+    ignoreFailures = false
+    reporters = arrayOf("html")
+    experimentalRules = false
+}
+
 sonarqube {
     properties {
         property("sonar.projectName", "semver-gradle")
diff --git a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
index 5f1b120..f4d7b2b 100644
--- a/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
+++ b/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper.properties
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 distributionBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 distributionPath=wrapper/dists
-distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-5.4-bin.zip
+distributionUrl=https\://services.gradle.org/distributions/gradle-5.4.1-bin.zip
 zipStoreBase=GRADLE_USER_HOME
 zipStorePath=wrapper/dists
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverPlugin.kt b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverPlugin.kt
index 0508fc7..a6dca00 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverPlugin.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverPlugin.kt
@@ -59,7 +59,11 @@ class SemverPlugin : Plugin<Project> {
     }
 
     private fun afterEvaluate(project: Project) {
-        val propsFile = File(config.properties)
+        val propsFile = if (File(config.properties).isAbsolute) {
+            File(config.properties)
+        } else {
+            File("${project.projectDir}${File.separator}${config.properties}")
+        }
 
         if (project.version != "unspecified") {
             project.logger.warn(
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Utils.kt b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Utils.kt
index e6e1489..c4da2b1 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Utils.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Utils.kt
@@ -70,12 +70,12 @@ object Utils {
         var isNew = false
         val props = Properties()
         file.apply {
-            if (!exists()) {
-                if (!createNewFile()) {
-                    throw GradleException("Unable to create: `$absoluteFile`")
-                } else {
+            try {
+                if (!exists() && createNewFile()) {
                     isNew = true
                 }
+            } catch (e: Exception) {
+                throw GradleException("Unable to create: `$absoluteFile`", e)
             }
             if (canReadFile()) {
                 FileInputStream(this).reader().use { reader ->
diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/UtilsSpec.kt b/src/test/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/UtilsSpec.kt
index 698ab7f..018c2b0 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/UtilsSpec.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/UtilsSpec.kt
@@ -32,11 +32,13 @@
 package net.thauvin.erik.gradle.semver
 
 import net.thauvin.erik.gradle.semver.Utils.canReadFile
+import org.gradle.api.GradleException
 import org.spekframework.spek2.Spek
 import org.spekframework.spek2.style.gherkin.Feature
 import java.io.File
 import java.util.Properties
 import kotlin.test.assertEquals
+import kotlin.test.assertFailsWith
 import kotlin.test.assertNull
 import kotlin.test.assertTrue
 
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ object UtilsSpec : Spek({
         val version = Version()
         val config = SemverConfig()
         val propsFile = File("test.properties")
+        val propsLocked = File("locked.properties")
         lateinit var props: Properties
 
         Scenario("Save/Load Properties") {
@@ -167,5 +170,35 @@ object UtilsSpec : Spek({
                 assertEquals(version.buildMeta, "007")
             }
         }
+
+        Scenario("Save to locked properties") {
+            Given("the locked properties") {
+                propsLocked.createNewFile()
+                propsLocked.setReadOnly()
+                config.properties = propsLocked.name
+            }
+
+            Then("saving the locked properties file") {
+                assertFailsWith<GradleException> {
+                    Utils.saveProperties(config, version)
+                }
+                propsLocked.delete()
+            }
+        }
+
+        Scenario("Load locked properties") {
+            lateinit var locked: File
+
+            Given("the locked location") {
+                locked = File("locked")
+            }
+
+            Then("loading locked properties") {
+                assertFailsWith<GradleException> {
+                    Utils.loadProperties(File(locked, propsLocked.name))
+                }
+                locked.delete()
+            }
+        }
     }
 })