diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index cb5104ee6..dc0ea8311 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -60,10 +60,8 @@ build_16_5:
     # make sure any previously merged jars are removed before running this job.
     # note: if the merged folder doesn't exist "rm -R Merged" will throw an error, which can be ignored
     #       the "|| true" makes that step always succeed.
-    - rm -R Merged || true;
-    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.16.5" --gradle-user-home cache/;
-    - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
     - ./gradlew test --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.16.5" --gradle-user-home cache/;
   # build using Java 16
   image: eclipse-temurin:16
   artifacts:
@@ -86,10 +84,8 @@ build_16_5:
 build_17_1:
   stage: build_17_1
   script:
-    - rm -R Merged || true;
-    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.17.1" --gradle-user-home cache/;
-    - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
     - ./gradlew test --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.17.1" --gradle-user-home cache/;
   image: eclipse-temurin:16
   artifacts:
     name: "Merged_NightlyBuild_1_17_1-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}-${CI_COMMIT_TIMESTAMP}"
@@ -108,11 +104,9 @@ build_17_1:
 # 1.18.1 build 
 build_18_1:
   stage: build_18_1
-  script: 
-    - rm -R Merged || true;
-    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.18.1" --gradle-user-home cache/;
-    - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
+  script:
     - ./gradlew test --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.18.1" --gradle-user-home cache/;
   # build using Java 17
   image: eclipse-temurin:17
   artifacts:
@@ -133,10 +127,8 @@ build_18_1:
 build_18_2:
   stage: build_18_2
   script:
-    - rm -R Merged || true;
-    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.18.2" --gradle-user-home cache/;
-    - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
     - ./gradlew test --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.18.2" --gradle-user-home cache/;
   image: eclipse-temurin:17
   artifacts:
     name: "Merged_NightlyBuild_1_18_2-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}-${CI_COMMIT_TIMESTAMP}"
@@ -156,10 +148,8 @@ build_18_2:
 build_19:
   stage: build_19
   script:
-    - rm -R Merged || true;
-    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.19" --gradle-user-home cache/;
-    - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
     - ./gradlew test --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - ./gradlew build -PmcVer="1.19" --gradle-user-home cache/;
   image: eclipse-temurin:17
   artifacts:
     name: "Merged_NightlyBuild_1_19-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}-${CI_COMMIT_TIMESTAMP}"