diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/sql/jdbc/build.gradle b/x-pack/plugin/sql/jdbc/build.gradle
index 4268daf734719..1a4d2313022f7 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/sql/jdbc/build.gradle
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/sql/jdbc/build.gradle
@@ -36,13 +36,19 @@ dependencyLicenses {
     ignoreSha 'elasticsearch'
 }
 
+test {
+    // don't use the shaded jar for tests
+    classpath += project.tasks.compileJava.outputs.files
+    classpath -= project.tasks.shadowJar.outputs.files
+}
+
 shadowJar {
     relocate 'com.fasterxml', 'org.elasticsearch.fasterxml'
+    // set the shaded configuration back to runtime instead of bundle because
+    // we need tests to use the non-shaded deps to allow editing/testing in intellij
+    configurations = [project.configurations.runtime]
 }
 
-// We don't need normal jar, we use shadow jar instead
-jar.enabled = false
-
 // We need a no-depenencies jar though for qa testing so it doesn't conflict with cli
 configurations {
     nodeps
@@ -55,7 +61,6 @@ task nodepsJar(type: Jar) {
 
 artifacts  {
     nodeps nodepsJar
-    archives shadowJar
 }
 
 publishing {