diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-build.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-build.yml
index c16f8e43..881f2352 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-build.yml
@@ -5,12 +5,16 @@ jobs:
     name: Pull Request Build Verification
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - name: Git Checkout
-      uses: actions/checkout@v4
-    - name: Init Java 21
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
       with:
-        distribution: 'corretto'
         java-version: '21'
-    - name: Gradle Build
-      run: ./gradlew build test --no-daemon
+        distribution: corretto
+    - uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v4
+      with:
+        cache-read-only: false
+    - name: Build
+      run: ./gradlew --no-daemon clean build test
+      env:
+        GITHUB_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.GH_USERNAME }}
+        GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/service/rest-service/build.gradle.kts b/service/rest-service/build.gradle.kts
index 671f2dce..13fa7164 100644
--- a/service/rest-service/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/service/rest-service/build.gradle.kts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import org.veupathdb.lib.gradle.container.util.Logger.Level
 
 plugins {
   kotlin("jvm")
-  id("org.veupathdb.lib.gradle.container.container-utils") version "5.0.4"
+  id("org.veupathdb.lib.gradle.container.container-utils") version "5.0.5"
 }
 
 // configure VEupathDB container plugin