diff --git a/testing/agent-for-testing/build.gradle.kts b/testing/agent-for-testing/build.gradle.kts
index b83ada924e2a..142a1e04bc82 100644
--- a/testing/agent-for-testing/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/testing/agent-for-testing/build.gradle.kts
@@ -24,21 +24,37 @@ dependencies {
   testImplementation("io.opentelemetry:opentelemetry-api")
 }
 
+abstract class ExtractJar : Copy() {
+  @get:InputFiles
+  abstract val jarFile: ConfigurableFileCollection
+
+  @get:Inject
+  abstract val archiveOperations: ArchiveOperations
+
+  init {
+    from(jarFile.elements.map { files -> files.map { archiveOperations.zipTree(it) } })
+  }
+}
+
 tasks {
+  val extractAgent by registering(ExtractJar::class) {
+    jarFile.from(agent)
+    into(layout.buildDirectory.dir("extracted-agent"))
+  }
+
   jar {
-    dependsOn(agent)
-    from(zipTree(agent.singleFile))
+    from(extractAgent.map { it.outputs.files })
     from(extensionLibs) {
       into("extensions")
     }
 
-    manifest.from(
-      providers.provider {
-        zipTree(agent.singleFile).matching {
-          include("META-INF/MANIFEST.MF")
-        }.singleFile
-      }
-    )
+    val manifestFileProvider = extractAgent.flatMap { task ->
+      layout.buildDirectory.file("extracted-agent/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF")
+    }
+
+    doFirst {
+      manifest.from(manifestFileProvider.get().asFile)
+    }
   }
 
   afterEvaluate {