diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 5b7ac1222..1db9adcdd 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ apply plugin: 'jacoco'
 
 group = 'com.google.maps'
 sourceCompatibility = 1.7
-version = '0.1.1-SNAPSHOT'
 
 repositories {
     mavenCentral()
@@ -108,6 +107,8 @@ uploadArchives {
     }
 }
 
-signing {
-    sign configurations.archives
+if (ext.'signing.secretKeyRingFile') {
+    signing {
+        sign configurations.archives
+    }
 }
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6702e24a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+version=0.1.1-SNAPSHOT
+
+# variables required to allow build.gradle to parse,
+# override in ~/.gradle/gradle.properties
+signing.keyId=
+signing.password=
+signing.secretKeyRingFile=
+
+sonatypeUsername=
+sonatypePassword=
+