diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a5a663dcf5..f8c9789dd6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ cosmwasm-check-contracts:
 contracts: build-release-contracts wasm-opt-contracts
 
 # Publishing build used by CI – deterministic Docker optimiser
-publish-contracts: optimize-contracts cosmwasm-check-contracts
+publish-contracts: optimize-contracts
 
 # Consider adding 's' to make plural consistent (beware: used in github workflow)
 contract-schema: