diff --git a/staging/publishing/rules.yaml b/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
index 5a28e6207e..8ac6601076 100644
--- a/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
+++ b/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ rules:
     - repository: api
       branch: master
   smoke-test: |
-    godep restore
+    # assumes GO111MODULE=on
     go build ./...
-    go test $(go list ./... | grep -v /vendor/)
+    go test ./...
 - destination: component-base
   library: true
   branches:
@@ -111,12 +111,7 @@ rules:
     required-packages:
     - k8s.io/code-generator
   smoke-test: |
-    # vendor/ should have all dependencies as a non-library
-    go build .
-    # re-create vendor/ and try again
-    godep restore
-    rm -rf vendor/ Godeps/
-    godep save ./...
+    # assumes GO111MODULE=on
     go build .
 - destination: sample-controller
   branches:
@@ -138,13 +133,7 @@ rules:
     required-packages:
     - k8s.io/code-generator
   smoke-test: |
-    # vendor/ should have all dependencies as a non-library
-    go build .
-
-    # re-create vendor/ and try again
-    godep restore
-    rm -rf vendor/ Godeps/
-    godep save ./...
+    # assumes GO111MODULE=on
     go build .
 - destination: apiextensions-apiserver
   branches: