diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index a239e1c8a4c7645bb377f81f3f442812bef2e3d4..b810ee748f09e8340235fb76b96f38f05f2f5371 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ apply from: "${projectDir}/gradle/repositories.gradle"
 apply from: "${projectDir}/gradle/spotbugs.gradle"
 apply from: "${projectDir}/gradle/spotless.gradle"
 
-
 compileJava.options.encoding = "UTF-8"
 compileTestJava.options.encoding = "UTF-8"
 mainClassName = "gov.usgs.earthquake.nshmp.www.Application"
@@ -61,7 +60,15 @@ tasks.withType(JavaCompile) {
 }
 
 tasks.withType(JavaExec) {
-  dependsOn nshms
+  doFirst {
+    def defaultRepo = "nshm-conus"
+    def defaultYear = 2018
+
+    if (!(new File("${nshmDir}/${defaultRepo}-${defaultYear}").exists())) {
+      downloadNshm(defaultRepo, defaultYear)
+    }
+  }
+
   jvmArgs(
       '-noverify',
       '-Xms2g',