diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 335097d45..de9147df8 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ before_script:
 build_16_5:
   stage: build_16_5
   script:
-    - ./gradlew deleteMerged --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - rm -R Merged;
     - ./gradlew build -PmcVer=1.16.5 --gradle-user-home cache/;
     - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
   image: eclipse-temurin:16
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ build_16_5:
 build_17_1:
   stage: build_17_1
   script:
-    - ./gradlew deleteMerged --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - rm -R Merged;
     - ./gradlew build -PmcVer=1.17.1 --gradle-user-home cache/;
     - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
   image: eclipse-temurin:16
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ build_17_1:
 build_18_1:
   stage: build_18_1
   script: 
-    - ./gradlew deleteMerged --gradle-user-home cache/; # make sure any previously merged jars are removed before running this job
+    - rm -R Merged; # make sure any previously merged jars are removed before running this job
     - ./gradlew build -PmcVer=1.18.1 --gradle-user-home cache/; 
     - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
   # build using Java 17
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ build_18_1:
 build_18_2:
   stage: build_18_2
   script:
-    - ./gradlew deleteMerged --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - rm -R Merged;
     - ./gradlew build -PmcVer=1.18.2 --gradle-user-home cache/;
     - ./gradlew merge --gradle-user-home cache/;
   image: eclipse-temurin:17
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 279197cff..f0d8b9951 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -364,10 +364,3 @@ allprojects { p ->
         runServer.enabled = false
     }
 }
-
-
-// this deletes the merged folder so we don't carry over
-// the previous merges to each new build job in the CI/CD pipeline
-task deleteMerged(type: Delete) {
-   delete files("./Merged")
-}