diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index d674feb298..0677bd6cf8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ on:
 
 env:
   TAG_REF: "${{ inputs.version || github.ref_name }}"
+  BUILD_ENV_FILE: ${{ vars.BUILD_ENV_FILE || 'beta-stable.env' }}
+  HAVE_KEYSTORE: ${{ secrets.SECRET_KEYSTORE != '' }}
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -23,8 +25,6 @@ jobs:
       contents: read # to fetch code (actions/checkout)
 
     env:
-      BUILD_ENV_FILE: ${{ vars.BUILD_ENV_FILE || 'beta-stable.env' }}
-      HAVE_KEYSTORE: ${{ secrets.SECRET_KEYSTORE != '' }}
       GRADLE_OPTS: "-Dorg.gradle.project.kotlin.compiler.execution.strategy=in-process"
 
     steps:
@@ -32,19 +32,29 @@ jobs:
         with:
           ref: "${{ env.TAG_REF }}"
 
+      - name: Set up JDK 17
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          distribution: temurin
+          java-version: 17
+          cache: gradle
+
       - name: Set up builder image
         run: docker-compose build
         working-directory: reproducible-builds
 
       - name: Export CI environment variables
         run: |
+          cp -v "ci/$BUILD_ENV_FILE" .env
           for var in APP_TITLE APP_FILENAME PACKAGE_ID \
                      BUILD_VARIANTS FORCE_INTERNAL_USER_FLAG \
                      MAPS_API_KEY; do
             if [ -n "${!var}" ]; then
+              echo "Setting CI_$var=${!var}"
               echo "CI_$var=${!var}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
             fi
           done
+        working-directory: reproducible-builds
         env:
           APP_TITLE: ${{ vars.CI_APP_TITLE }}
           APP_FILENAME: ${{ vars.CI_APP_FILENAME }}
@@ -62,12 +72,12 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build without signing
         if: "env.HAVE_KEYSTORE == 'false'"
-        run: docker-compose --env-file "ci/$BUILD_ENV_FILE" run assemble
+        run: docker-compose run -v "$HOME/.gradle/caches:/.gradle-ro-cache:ro" assemble
         working-directory: reproducible-builds
 
       - name: Build and sign
         if: "env.HAVE_KEYSTORE == 'true'"
-        run: docker-compose --env-file "ci/$BUILD_ENV_FILE" run assemble
+        run: docker-compose run -v "$HOME/.gradle/caches:/.gradle-ro-cache:ro" assemble
         working-directory: reproducible-builds
         env:
           CI_KEYSTORE_PATH: certs/keystore.jks
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reprocheck.yml b/.github/workflows/reprocheck.yml
index 575f4e48e5..f800b96fe9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reprocheck.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reprocheck.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ permissions:
 
 env:
   TAG_REF: "${{ github.event.inputs.version || github.event.release.tag_name }}"
+  BUILD_ENV_FILE: ${{ vars.BUILD_ENV_FILE || 'beta-stable.env' }}
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -22,7 +23,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
     env:
-      BUILD_ENV_FILE: ${{ vars.BUILD_ENV_FILE || 'beta-stable.env' }}
       GRADLE_OPTS: "-Dorg.gradle.project.kotlin.compiler.execution.strategy=in-process"
 
     steps:
@@ -36,13 +36,16 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Export CI environment variables
         run: |
+          cp -v "ci/$BUILD_ENV_FILE" .env
           for var in APP_TITLE APP_FILENAME PACKAGE_ID \
                      BUILD_VARIANTS FORCE_INTERNAL_USER_FLAG \
                      MAPS_API_KEY; do
             if [ -n "${!var}" ]; then
+              echo "Setting CI_$var=${!var}"
               echo "CI_$var=${!var}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
             fi
           done
+        working-directory: reproducible-builds
         env:
           APP_TITLE: ${{ vars.CI_APP_TITLE }}
           APP_FILENAME: ${{ vars.CI_APP_FILENAME }}
@@ -52,7 +55,7 @@ jobs:
           MAPS_API_KEY: ${{ vars.CI_MAPS_API_KEY }}
 
       - name: Build release
-        run: docker-compose --env-file "ci/$BUILD_ENV_FILE" run assemble
+        run: docker-compose run assemble
         working-directory: reproducible-builds
 
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index bd0a39647a..a2dc156d4f 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ COPY gradlew /molly/
 COPY gradle /molly/gradle/
 RUN /molly/gradlew --version
 
+ENV GRADLE_RO_DEP_CACHE=/.gradle-ro-cache
+
 COPY . /molly/
 WORKDIR /molly
 RUN git clean -df
diff --git a/reproducible-builds/docker-compose.yml b/reproducible-builds/docker-compose.yml
index e71c68b9f8..6e89acbf91 100644
--- a/reproducible-builds/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/reproducible-builds/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-version: '3.2'
 services:
   assemble:
     image: reproducible-molly