diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 7fb7007..4891edf 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -160,7 +160,9 @@ semver:
     - pip install python-semantic-release==9.* wheel build twine
     - export GL_TOKEN=$CI_UPDATES
     - semantic-release -vv version
-    - python -m build
+    
+    # check if any artifacts were created
+    - if [ ! -d dist ]; then echo No release will be made; exit 0; fi
     - twine upload dist/* -u __token__ -p $CI_PYPI_TOKEN --skip-existing
     - semantic-release publish