diff --git a/.github/workflows/netcetera-publish.yml b/.github/workflows/netcetera-publish.yml
index 96fba51b..bd3b3f71 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/netcetera-publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/netcetera-publish.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build
         run: ./gradlew :netcetera-3ds-core:assembleProductionRelease
+        env:
+          NETCETERA_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.NETCETERA_API_KEY }}
 
       - name: Publish To Maven Central
         run: ./gradlew :netcetera-3ds-core:publishProductionReleasePublicationToSonatypeRepository closeAndReleaseSonatypeStagingRepository --max-workers=1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/netcetera-update.yml b/.github/workflows/netcetera-update.yml
index 0ed68b03..8e5fcfbd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/netcetera-update.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/netcetera-update.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build Verification
         run: ./gradlew :netcetera-3ds-core:assembleProductionRelease
+        env:
+          NETCETERA_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.NETCETERA_API_KEY }}
 
       - name: Create Pull Request
         uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v5.0.0
diff --git a/netcetera-3ds-core/build.gradle b/netcetera-3ds-core/build.gradle
index b8a9a1a6..e536b767 100644
--- a/netcetera-3ds-core/build.gradle
+++ b/netcetera-3ds-core/build.gradle
@@ -103,8 +103,13 @@ def getApiKey() {
             throw new GradleException("Missing or blank 'netcetera.apiKey' in 'local.properties' file.")
         }
         return apiKey
+    } else {
+        String apiKey = System.getenv('NETCETERA_API_KEY')
+        if (!apiKey) {
+            throw new GradleException("Environment variable 'NETCETERA_API_KEY' is missing or blank.")
+        }
+        return apiKey
     }
-    throw new GradleException("File not found: 'local.properties'.")
 }
 
 tasks.register('afterKeepSecrets') {