diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 7436d55f4..1196ef3c7 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ publish:
   - develop
   script:
   # workaround for bug in fdroid nightly
+  - sed -i "s/-debug.apk/-unsigned.apk/" /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/fdroidserver/nightly.py
   - sed -i "s/servergitmirror = 'git@' +/servergitmirror = 'gitlab@' +/" /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/fdroidserver/nightly.py
   - sed -i "s/git@/gitlab@/" /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/fdroidserver/index.py
   # generate new version
@@ -38,7 +39,8 @@ publish:
   - sed -i "0,/versionName/s/^\(\s*versionName\).*/\1 \"$versionName\"/" build.gradle
   - cat -n build.gradle
   # build free version
-  - ./gradlew assembleConversationsFreeCompatDebug
+  - ./gradlew assembleConversationsFreeCompatRelease
+  - ls build/outputs/apk/conversationsFreeCompat/*
   # publish on nightly fdroid repo
   - fdroid nightly -v