diff --git a/actions/java-gradle-release/action.yaml b/actions/java-gradle-release/action.yaml
index 632210a9f..c0e5aad0f 100644
--- a/actions/java-gradle-release/action.yaml
+++ b/actions/java-gradle-release/action.yaml
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ runs:
     - name: Check out repository
       uses: bakdata/ci-templates/actions/checkout@1.50.2
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
+        fetch-depth: 0 # required for changelog generation
+        persist-credentials: false # required for pushing to protected branch later
 
     - name: Setup git
       run: |