diff --git a/.kokoro/build.sh b/.kokoro/build.sh
index 970fa98..39b87f8 100755
--- a/.kokoro/build.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/build.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ retry_with_backoff 3 10 \
     -Dgcloud.download.skip=true \
     -T 1C
 
-# if GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDIENTIALS is specified as a relative path prepend Kokoro root directory onto it
+# if GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS is specified as a relative path, prepend Kokoro root directory onto it
 if [[ ! -z "${GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS}" && "${GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS}" != /* ]]; then
     export GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS=$(realpath ${KOKORO_GFILE_DIR}/${GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS})
 fi
diff --git a/.kokoro/release/snapshot.sh b/.kokoro/release/snapshot.sh
index 098168a..1f55b77 100755
--- a/.kokoro/release/snapshot.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/release/snapshot.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ grep SNAPSHOT versions.txt
 setup_environment_secrets
 create_settings_xml_file "settings.xml"
 
-mvn clean install deploy -B \
+mvn clean deploy -B \
   --settings ${MAVEN_SETTINGS_FILE} \
   -DperformRelease=true \
   -Dgpg.executable=gpg \
diff --git a/.kokoro/release/stage.sh b/.kokoro/release/stage.sh
index 16126d2..8a10338 100755
--- a/.kokoro/release/stage.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/release/stage.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ create_settings_xml_file "settings.xml"
 
 # attempt to stage 3 times with exponential backoff (starting with 10 seconds)
 retry_with_backoff 3 10 \
-  mvn clean install deploy -B \
+  mvn clean deploy -B \
     --settings ${MAVEN_SETTINGS_FILE} \
     -DskipTests=true \
     -DperformRelease=true \
diff --git a/synth.metadata b/synth.metadata
index 39dedf9..a14b7d2 100644
--- a/synth.metadata
+++ b/synth.metadata
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "git": {
         "name": ".",
         "remote": "https://github.com/googleapis/java-profiler.git",
-        "sha": "eca643e454eceb16ef4e19a679e24626b2dd4322"
+        "sha": "5efa85f621347427a79284b73369b8861a889afc"
       }
     },
     {
@@ -19,14 +19,7 @@
       "git": {
         "name": "synthtool",
         "remote": "https://github.com/googleapis/synthtool.git",
-        "sha": "d9ddac83a22a600dd33854c9d835a4fe52284207"
-      }
-    },
-    {
-      "git": {
-        "name": "synthtool",
-        "remote": "https://github.com/googleapis/synthtool.git",
-        "sha": "d9ddac83a22a600dd33854c9d835a4fe52284207"
+        "sha": "8285c2b4cdbc3771d031ad91e1c4ec9e55fff45d"
       }
     }
   ],
@@ -97,7 +90,6 @@
     "CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md",
     "CONTRIBUTING.md",
     "LICENSE",
-    "README.md",
     "codecov.yaml",
     "google-cloud-profiler/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/cloudprofiler/v2/ProfilerServiceClient.java",
     "google-cloud-profiler/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/cloudprofiler/v2/ProfilerServiceSettings.java",