diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/ilm/build.gradle b/x-pack/plugin/ilm/build.gradle
index 71def893781..f9ced7dc38e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/ilm/build.gradle
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/ilm/build.gradle
@@ -27,6 +27,18 @@ gradle.projectsEvaluated {
             .each { check.dependsOn it.check }
 }
 
+
+/* Remove assemble on all qa projects because we don't need to publish
+ * artifacts for them. */
+gradle.projectsEvaluated {
+    subprojects {
+        Task assemble = project.tasks.findByName('assemble')
+        if (assemble) {
+            assemble.enabled = false
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 integTest.enabled = false
 
 run {