diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index efb566ff..bbf8430d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           version-file: emqx-plugin-templates/.tool-versions
           version-type: strict
+      - name: Ensure rebar3
+        run: make ensure-rebar3
       - name: Install rebar3 template
         run: make install-rebar-template
       - name: build plugins
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index cb709487..b5e00a20 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -35,14 +35,10 @@ install-rebar-template:
 	$(SCRIPTS)/install-rebar-template.sh
 
 .PHONY: build-test-plugins
-build-test-plugins:
+build-test-plugins: $(REBAR)
 	$(SCRIPTS)/build-sample-plugin.sh --tag 1.0.0 --name my_emqx_plugin_avsc --with-avsc --output-dir $(TEST_ASSETS_DIR)
 	$(SCRIPTS)/build-sample-plugin.sh --tag 1.0.0 --name my_emqx_plugin --output-dir $(TEST_ASSETS_DIR)
 
-.PHONY: build-plugin
-build-plugin:
-	$(SCRIPTS)/build-sample-plugin.sh --tag $(PLUGIN_VSN) --name $(PLUGIN_NAME) --with-avsc --output-dir $(PLUGIN_DIR)
-
 .PHONY: fmt
 fmt: $(REBAR)
 	$(REBAR) fmt --verbose -w