diff --git a/build-conventions/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/gradle/internal/conventions/precommit/FormattingPrecommitPlugin.java b/build-conventions/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/gradle/internal/conventions/precommit/FormattingPrecommitPlugin.java
index edcc36f60618e..0ab1e51cd9ce7 100644
--- a/build-conventions/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/gradle/internal/conventions/precommit/FormattingPrecommitPlugin.java
+++ b/build-conventions/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/gradle/internal/conventions/precommit/FormattingPrecommitPlugin.java
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ private Object[] getTargets(String projectPath) {
         ":client:test",
         ":client:transport",
         ":distribution:archives:integ-test-zip",
+        ":distribution:bwc:bugfix",
+        ":distribution:bwc:bugfix",
+        ":distribution:bwc:minor",
+        ":distribution:bwc:staged",
         ":distribution:docker",
         ":docs",
         ":libs:elasticsearch-cli",