diff --git a/conjure-java/build.gradle b/conjure-java/build.gradle
index 8bc0b33f2..2da86f5f7 100644
--- a/conjure-java/build.gradle
+++ b/conjure-java/build.gradle
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 apply from: "$rootDir/gradle/publish-dist.gradle"
 
 mainClassName = 'com.palantir.conjure.java.cli.ConjureJavaCli'
-distTar.compression = Compression.GZIP
 
 dependencies {
     compile project(':conjure-java-core')
diff --git a/gradle/publish-dist.gradle b/gradle/publish-dist.gradle
index e3e38d641..88fb4ad48 100644
--- a/gradle/publish-dist.gradle
+++ b/gradle/publish-dist.gradle
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ apply plugin: 'application'
 apply plugin: 'com.jfrog.bintray'
 apply plugin: 'maven-publish'
 
+distTar.compression = Compression.GZIP
+
 bintray {
     user = System.env.BINTRAY_USERNAME
     key = System.env.BINTRAY_PASSWORD