diff --git a/actions/java-gradle-release/action.yaml b/actions/java-gradle-release/action.yaml
index 5207bb428..a79f0814f 100644
--- a/actions/java-gradle-release/action.yaml
+++ b/actions/java-gradle-release/action.yaml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ runs:
       uses: bakdata/ci-templates/actions/checkout@1.50.3
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0 # required for changelog generation
+        persist-credentials: false # required for pushing to protected branch later
 
     - name: Setup git
       run: |