diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 6b11d3c293..691630da97 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -88,7 +88,11 @@ task login {
 }
 
 // Define remoteSiteDir and sshHost in gradle.properties
-def remoteDocsDir="$remoteSiteDir/docs/3.1.x"
+def remoteDocsDir = null
+
+if (hasProperty('remoteSiteDir')) {
+    remoteDocsDir="$remoteSiteDir/docs/3.1.x"
+}
 
 task uploadApidocs(dependsOn: login) << {
     ant {