diff --git a/nmcp/src/main/kotlin/nmcp/plugins.kt b/nmcp/src/main/kotlin/nmcp/plugins.kt
index ed647f4..ca1a0b7 100644
--- a/nmcp/src/main/kotlin/nmcp/plugins.kt
+++ b/nmcp/src/main/kotlin/nmcp/plugins.kt
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ internal fun nmcpSettings(settings: Settings) {
                 project.dependencies.add(nmcpConsumerConfigurationName, project.dependencies.create(it))
             }
         } else {
-            project.pluginManager.apply("com.gradleup.nmcp")
+            project.pluginManager.withPlugin("maven-publish") {
+                project.pluginManager.apply("com.gradleup.nmcp")
+            }
         }
     }
 }