diff --git a/.github/workflows/validation.yml b/.github/workflows/validation.yml
index 2c9b6f885..d81b1710a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validation.yml
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ jobs:
           TB_LICENSE=${{secrets.TB_LICENSE}}
           mkdir -p ~/.vaadin/
           echo '{"username":"'`echo $TB_LICENSE | cut -d / -f1`'","proKey":"'`echo $TB_LICENSE | cut -d / -f2`'"}' > ~/.vaadin/proKey
+      - name: publish plugin to Maven Local
+        run: ./packages/java/gradle-plugin/gradlew --info -p packages/java/gradle-plugin build publishToMavenLocal -x functionalTest
       - name: Test gradle-plugin's functional tests
         run: ./packages/java/gradle-plugin/gradlew --info -p packages/java/gradle-plugin functionalTest
       - name: Gradle ITs