diff --git a/sonatype/src/main/kotlin/com/bakdata/gradle/SonatypePlugin.kt b/sonatype/src/main/kotlin/com/bakdata/gradle/SonatypePlugin.kt
index d65302e..46f92e0 100644
--- a/sonatype/src/main/kotlin/com/bakdata/gradle/SonatypePlugin.kt
+++ b/sonatype/src/main/kotlin/com/bakdata/gradle/SonatypePlugin.kt
@@ -77,11 +77,9 @@ class SonatypePlugin : Plugin<Project> {
                 }
             }
 
-            if (tasks.findByName("publishToNexus") == null) {
-                tasks.register("publishToNexus")
-            }
+            val publishToNexus = tasks.findByName("publishToNexus") ?: tasks.create("publishToNexus")
             tasks.named("closeRepository") {
-                mustRunAfter("publishToNexus")
+                mustRunAfter(publishToNexus)
             }
 
             addParentPublishToNexusTasks()