diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-edc-ext-to-maven-central.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-edc-ext-to-maven-central.yml
index f6402d88..0f87416a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-edc-ext-to-maven-central.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-edc-ext-to-maven-central.yml
@@ -49,10 +49,7 @@ jobs:
           server-id: ossrh
           server-username: MAVEN_USERNAME
           server-password: MAVEN_PASSWORD
-      - name: Setup Maven Action
-        uses: s4u/setup-maven-action@v1.7.0
-        with:
-          java-version: 17
+          gpg-passphrase: MAVEN_GPG_PASSPHRASE
       - name: List Keys (set up GPG)
         shell: bash
         run: |
@@ -70,7 +67,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Publish to the Maven Central Repository
         shell: bash
         run: |
-          mvn clean verify nexus-staging:deploy -Dgpg.passphrase="${{ secrets.ORG_GPG_PASSPHRASE }}" -f libraries/edc-extension/pom.xml -P release-to-central
+          mvn clean verify nexus-staging:deploy -f libraries/edc-extension/pom.xml -P release-to-central
         env:
           MAVEN_USERNAME: "${{ secrets.ORG_OSSRH_USERNAME }}"
           MAVEN_PASSWORD: "${{ secrets.ORG_OSSRH_PASSWORD }}"
+          MAVEN_GPG_PASSPHRASE: "${{ secrets.ORG_GPG_PASSPHRASE }}"