diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index dbdeb7c8..b7944c7d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
+## 24.1.4
+
+* Cleaned up unused gradle dependencies from root build.gradle.
+
 ## 24.1.3
 
 * Extended minimum JDK support to 8.
 
 ## 24.1.2
+
 * !! Major Breaking Change !! Minimum JDK support is 19 for this minor.
 
 * Migrated from Sonatype OSSRH.
@@ -214,3 +219,4 @@
 
 * initial SDK release
 * MavenCentral rerelease 
+
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 8a55cf4f..31db9934 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -1,37 +1,21 @@
 // Top-level build file where you can add configuration options common to all sub-projects/modules.
 
 buildscript {
-    repositories {
-        google()
-        mavenCentral()
-        jcenter()
-        maven {
-            url "https://maven.google.com"
-        }
-    }
-    dependencies {
-        classpath 'com.android.tools.build:gradle:8.1.4'
-        classpath 'com.github.dcendents:android-maven-plugin:1.2'
-        classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:4.4.2'
-
-        // NOTE: Do not place your application dependencies here; they belong
-        // in the individual module build.gradle files
-    }
+  repositories {
+    google()
+    mavenCentral()
+  }
 }
 
 allprojects {
-    ext.CLY_VERSION = "24.1.3"
-    ext.POWERMOCK_VERSION = "1.7.4"
+  ext.CLY_VERSION = "24.1.3"
+  ext.POWERMOCK_VERSION = "1.7.4"
 
-    tasks.withType(Javadoc) {
-        options.addStringOption('Xdoclint:none', '-quiet')
-    }
-    repositories {
-        google()
-        jcenter()
-        //mavenLocal()
-        maven {
-            url "https://maven.google.com" // Google's Maven repository
-        }
-    }
+  tasks.withType(Javadoc) {
+    options.addStringOption('Xdoclint:none', '-quiet')
+  }
+  repositories {
+    google()
+    mavenCentral()
+  }
 }
diff --git a/sdk-java/build.gradle b/sdk-java/build.gradle
index 5c80b57c..76790b55 100644
--- a/sdk-java/build.gradle
+++ b/sdk-java/build.gradle
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ buildscript {
     //mavenLocal()
   }
   dependencies {
-    classpath 'com.vanniktech:gradle-maven-publish-plugin:0.28.0' //for publishing
+    // Load publish plugin ONLY when publish task is requested
+    if (gradle.startParameter.taskNames.any { it.toLowerCase().contains("publish") }) {
+      // This requires minimum java 11 to work
+      classpath 'com.vanniktech:gradle-maven-publish-plugin:0.28.0'
+    } 
   }
 }
 
@@ -28,4 +32,6 @@ dependencies {
   //testImplementation 'com.squareup.okhttp3:mockwebserver:3.7.0'
 }
 
-apply plugin: "com.vanniktech.maven.publish"
+if (gradle.startParameter.taskNames.any { it.toLowerCase().contains("publish") }) {
+  apply plugin: "com.vanniktech.maven.publish"
+}