diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index d0bc59d..6cafacc 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -19,17 +19,23 @@ android {
 
     signingConfigs {
         release {
-            storeFile file("release-key.jks")
-            storePassword RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD
-            keyAlias "release-key"
-            keyPassword RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD
+            def hasSigning = project.hasProperty("RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD") && file("release-key.jks").exists()
+            if (hasSigning) {
+                storeFile file("release-key.jks")
+                storePassword RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD
+                keyAlias "release-key"
+                keyPassword RELEASE_STORE_PASSWORD
+            } else {
+                println "⚠️  No release signing config present, skipping signing setup"
+            }
         }
     }
 
     buildTypes {
         release {
             minifyEnabled = false
-            signingConfig = signingConfigs.release
+            // only apply signingConfig if it was actually initialized
+            signingConfig signingConfigs.release?.storeFile != null ? signingConfigs.release : null
             proguardFiles(getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro')
         }
     }