diff --git a/plugins/edc-build/src/main/java/org/eclipse/edc/plugins/edcbuild/conventions/MavenPublicationConvention.java b/plugins/edc-build/src/main/java/org/eclipse/edc/plugins/edcbuild/conventions/MavenPublicationConvention.java
index 6a3a387..952521b 100644
--- a/plugins/edc-build/src/main/java/org/eclipse/edc/plugins/edcbuild/conventions/MavenPublicationConvention.java
+++ b/plugins/edc-build/src/main/java/org/eclipse/edc/plugins/edcbuild/conventions/MavenPublicationConvention.java
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 package org.eclipse.edc.plugins.edcbuild.conventions;
 
+import com.vanniktech.maven.publish.JavadocJar;
 import com.vanniktech.maven.publish.MavenPublishBaseExtension;
 import com.vanniktech.maven.publish.MavenPublishPlugin;
 import org.eclipse.edc.plugins.edcbuild.extensions.BuildExtension;
@@ -41,9 +42,18 @@ public void apply(Project target) {
                 extension.publishToMavenCentral(automaticRelease, validateDeployment);
 
                 extension.signAllPublications();
+
+                if (isSnapshot(target)) {
+                    // skip javadocs for snapshots
+                    extension.configureBasedOnAppliedPlugins(new JavadocJar.None());
+                }
             });
         }
 
     }
 
+    private static boolean isSnapshot(Project target) {
+        return target.getVersion().toString().endsWith("-SNAPSHOT");
+    }
+
 }