diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
index c4f204b279..15cffca1f2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ jobs:
           githubAccessToken: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           ballerinaBotWorkflow: $ {{ secrets.BALLERINA_BOT_WORKFLOW }}
         run: |
-          ./gradlew build -Pversion=${VERSION}
+          ./gradlew build -x project-api-tests:test -Pversion=${VERSION}
           ./gradlew release -Prelease.useAutomaticVersion=true -x test
       - name: Checkout docker repo
         uses: actions/checkout@v3