diff --git a/elasticsearch/x-pack/build.gradle b/elasticsearch/x-pack/build.gradle
index 554bf0dab65..6f93876c826 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/x-pack/build.gradle
+++ b/elasticsearch/x-pack/build.gradle
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ project.afterEvaluate {
                  StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING)
     }
   }
+  assemble.dependsOn(apiJar)
   project.publishing {
     publications {
       apijar(MavenPublication) {