diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 4a46ac4b6..4fb142a6b 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ allprojects {
 
     publishing {
         publications {
-            if (project.props.bool("nexus.publish", default = true)) {
+            if (project.props.bool("nexus.publish", default = false)) {
                 create<MavenPublication>(project.name) {
                     groupId = "software.amazon.jdbc"
                     artifactId = "aws-advanced-jdbc-wrapper"
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 00beacf39..5dd175531 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -16,3 +16,4 @@ aws-advanced-jdbc-wrapper.version.major=2
 aws-advanced-jdbc-wrapper.version.minor=2
 aws-advanced-jdbc-wrapper.version.subminor=1
 snapshot=false
+nexus.publish=true