diff --git a/.github/ci-gradle.properties b/.github/ci-gradle.properties
index dce30b2..6489d6c 100644
--- a/.github/ci-gradle.properties
+++ b/.github/ci-gradle.properties
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ org.jetbrains.compose.experimental.macos.enabled=true
 org.gradle.configuration-cache.problems=warn
 nl.littlerobots.vcu.resolver=true
 org.gradle.console=plain
-CI=true
+release=true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 4c12057..0001ce2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
           ORG_GRADLE_PROJECT_signingInMemoryKey: ${{ secrets.SIGNING_KEY }}
           ORG_GRADLE_PROJECT_signingInMemoryKeyId: ${{ secrets.SIGNING_KEY_ID }}
           ORG_GRADLE_PROJECT_signingInMemoryKeyPassword: ${{ secrets.SIGNING_PASSWORD }}
-        run: ./gradlew publishAndReleaseToMavenCentral --no-configuration-cache
+        run: ./gradlew publishToMavenCentral --no-configuration-cache
 
       - name: Generate Changelog
         uses: mikepenz/release-changelog-builder-action@v4
diff --git a/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/Util.kt b/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/Util.kt
index e187c6d..9e93d23 100644
--- a/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/Util.kt
+++ b/buildSrc/src/main/kotlin/Util.kt
@@ -5,10 +5,7 @@ import org.gradle.api.artifacts.VersionCatalog
 import org.gradle.api.artifacts.VersionCatalogsExtension
 import org.gradle.kotlin.dsl.getByType
 import org.gradle.plugin.use.PluginDependency
-import java.io.File
-import java.io.FileInputStream
 import java.util.Base64
-import java.util.Properties
 
 /**
  * Load version catalog for usage in places where it is not available yet with gradle 7.x.
@@ -49,13 +46,6 @@ fun List<String>.toJavaArrayString() = buildString {
 
 fun String.toBase64() = Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString(toByteArray())
 
-fun Project.localProperties() = Properties().apply {
-    val file = File(rootProject.rootDir.absolutePath, "local.properties")
-    if (file.exists()) {
-        load(FileInputStream(file))
-    }
-}
-
 fun stabilityLevel(version: String): Int {
     Config.stabilityLevels.forEachIndexed { index, postfix ->
         val regex = """.*[.\-]$postfix[.\-\d]*""".toRegex(RegexOption.IGNORE_CASE)
diff --git a/core/build.gradle.kts b/core/build.gradle.kts
index 315c34a..a558b3b 100644
--- a/core/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/core/build.gradle.kts
@@ -15,10 +15,9 @@ dependencies {
 }
 
 mavenPublishing {
-    val properties = localProperties()
     val isReleaseBuild = properties["release"]?.toString().toBoolean()
     publishToMavenCentral(SonatypeHost.CENTRAL_PORTAL, false)
-    signAllPublications()
+    if (isReleaseBuild) signAllPublications()
     coordinates(Config.group, Config.artifact, Config.version(isReleaseBuild))
     pom {
         name = Config.name
@@ -43,6 +42,5 @@ mavenPublishing {
         scm {
             url = Config.scmUrl
         }
-
     }
 }
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 5a85fc9..09a2657 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -22,3 +22,4 @@ android.nonFinalResIds=true
 kotlinx.atomicfu.enableJvmIrTransformation=true
 org.gradle.configuration-cache.problems=warn
 nl.littlerobots.vcu.resolver=true
+release=false