diff --git a/.github/workflows/gradle-publish.yml b/.github/workflows/gradle-publish.yml
index 38b0a13f..86275186 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gradle-publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gradle-publish.yml
@@ -27,18 +27,28 @@ jobs:
         java-version: '17'
         distribution: 'temurin'
         server-id: github # Value of the distributionManagement/repository/id field of the pom.xml
-        settings-path: ${{ github.workspace }} # location for the settings.xml file
+        cache: gradle
 
-    - name: Set up Gradle
-      uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v3
+    - name: Grant execute permission for gradlew
+      run: chmod +x gradlew
+      working-directory: android
+
+    - name: Install cargo-ndk
+      run: cargo install cargo-ndk
+
+    - name: Touch local.properties (required for cargo-ndk)
+      run: touch local.properties
+      working-directory: android
 
     - name: Execute Gradle build
       run: ./gradlew build
+      working-directory: android
 
     # The USERNAME and TOKEN need to correspond to the credentials environment variables used in
     # the publishing section of your build.gradle
     - name: Publish to GitHub Packages
       run: ./gradlew publish
+      working-directory: android
       env:
         GITHUB_ACTOR: ${{ github.actor }}
         GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}