diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 65c0b0c71d..33af5f54da 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -139,11 +139,6 @@
 		<defaultGoal>deploy</defaultGoal>
 		<finalName>${project.artifactId}-${project.version}</finalName>
 		<plugins>
-			<plugin>
-				<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
-				<artifactId>maven-gpg-plugin</artifactId>
-				<version>1.1</version>
-			</plugin>
 			<plugin>
 				<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
 				<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -200,10 +195,28 @@
 	</build>
 
 	<profiles>
+	    <!-- The release profile is used only for releasing jOOQ to
+		     the Sonatype Maven repository or to Maven central 
+			 lengthy or annoying operations for everyday use by users
+			 building jOOQ themselves are put here -->
 		<profile>
-			<id>javadoc</id>
+			<id>release</id>
 			<build>
 				<plugins>
+                    <plugin>
+                        <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                        <artifactId>maven-gpg-plugin</artifactId>
+                        <version>1.1</version>
+                        <executions>
+                            <execution>
+                                <id>sign-artifacts</id>
+                                <phase>verify</phase>
+                                <goals>
+                                    <goal>sign</goal>
+                                </goals>
+                            </execution>
+                        </executions>
+                    </plugin>
 					<plugin>
 						<inherited>true</inherited>
 						<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>