diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 4f64126..15872f1 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -64,8 +64,10 @@ publish-maven-package:
       when: never
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_TAG !~ /^release-[0-9]+[.][0-9]+([.][0-9]+)?$/
   script:
+    - ping -c 2 repo.prod.meissa.de
+    - ssh-keyscan repo.prod.meissa.de
     - ./gradlew -x assemble -x test jar
-    - ./gradlew -x assemble -x test publishLibraryPublicationToMeissaRepository
+    - ./gradlew -x assemble -x test publish
   artifacts:
     paths:
       - build/libs/*.jar
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 83734d1..fef3097 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -189,7 +189,13 @@ publishing {
             credentials(HttpHeaderCredentials) {
                 name = "Authorization"
                 if (System.getenv("CI_JOB_TOKEN") != null) {
-                    value = "token " + System.getenv("RELEASE_TOKEN")
+                    def tok = System.getenv("RELEASE_TOKEN")
+                    if (tok == null) {
+                        println "Error: RELEASE_TOKEN not found"
+                    } else {
+                        value = "token " + tok
+                        println "RELEASE_TOKEN found - " + (10 < tok.length())
+                    }
                 } else {
                     // use project-property (define e.g. in "~/.gradle/gradle.properties") when not running in ci
                     // you can create a token in gitea "Profile and Settings ... > Settings > Applications", Token Name, Select scopes (write:package) > "Generate Token"