diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 8773a24f..e77c1b2f 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -178,23 +178,6 @@
           </links>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
-      <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>
-        <configuration>
-          <keyname>mdb@samskivert.com</keyname>
-        </configuration>
-      </plugin>
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
         <artifactId>maven-jar-plugin</artifactId>
@@ -212,4 +195,34 @@
       </plugin>
     </plugins>
   </build>
+
+  <profiles>
+    <profile>
+      <id>release-sign-artifacts</id>
+      <activation>
+        <property><name>performRelease</name><value>true</value></property>
+      </activation>
+      <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>
+            <configuration>
+              <keyname>mdb@samskivert.com</keyname>
+            </configuration>
+          </plugin>
+        </plugins>
+      </build>
+    </profile>
+  </profiles>
 </project>