diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 4830029e8..7a64bd46a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -106,6 +106,15 @@ jobs:
       id: preflight
       run: ./.github/scripts/publish_preflight_check.sh
 
+    - name: Publish to Maven Central
+      run: ./.github/scripts/publish_artifacts.sh
+      env:
+        GPG_PASSPHRASE: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSPHRASE }}
+        GPG_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+        GPG_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.GPG_KEY_ID }}
+        CENTRAL_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.CENTRAL_USERNAME }}
+        CENTRAL_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CENTRAL_TOKEN }}
+
     # See: https://cli.github.com/manual/gh_release_create
     - name: Create release tag
       env:
@@ -116,12 +125,3 @@ jobs:
         gh release create "$RELEASE_VER" \
           --title "Firebase Admin Java SDK $RELEASE_VER" \
           --notes "$RELEASE_BODY"
-
-    - name: Publish to Maven Central
-      run: ./.github/scripts/publish_artifacts.sh
-      env:
-        GPG_PASSPHRASE: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSPHRASE }}
-        GPG_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.GPG_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-        GPG_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.GPG_KEY_ID }}
-        CENTRAL_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.CENTRAL_USERNAME }}
-        CENTRAL_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CENTRAL_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 508605d51..66da562a1 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@
     <properties>
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
         <project.reporting.outputEncoding>UTF-8</project.reporting.outputEncoding>
+        <skipTests>false</skipTests>
         <skipUTs>${skipTests}</skipUTs>
+        <skipITs>${skipTests}</skipITs>
         <netty.version>4.2.18.Final</netty.version>
     </properties>
 
@@ -146,6 +148,9 @@
         </profile>
         <profile>
             <id>release</id>
+            <properties>
+                <skipITs>true</skipITs>
+            </properties>
             <build>
                 <plugins>
                     <plugin>