diff --git a/ops/pipelines/depot.nix b/ops/pipelines/depot.nix
index de0375537..878526e37 100644
--- a/ops/pipelines/depot.nix
+++ b/ops/pipelines/depot.nix
@@ -76,25 +76,5 @@ let
     ++ [
       # Simultaneously run protobuf checks
       protoCheck
-
-      # After duck, on success, create a gcroot if the build branch is
-      # canon.
-      #
-      # We care that this anchors *most* of the depot, in practice
-      # it's unimportant if there is a build race and we get +-1 of
-      # the targets.
-      #
-      # Unfortunately this requires a third evaluation of the graph,
-      # but since it happens after :duck: it should not affect the
-      # timing of status reporting back to Gerrit.
-      ({
-        command = "nix-instantiate -A ci.gcroot --add-root /nix/var/nix/gcroots/depot/canon";
-        label = ":anchor:";
-        "if" = ''build.branch == "refs/heads/canon"'';
-        depends_on = [{
-          step = ":duck:";
-          allow_failure = false;
-        }];
-      })
     ];
 in (writeText "depot.yaml" (toJSON pipeline))
diff --git a/ops/pipelines/static-pipeline.yaml b/ops/pipelines/static-pipeline.yaml
index 2c7767820..388cf9231 100644
--- a/ops/pipelines/static-pipeline.yaml
+++ b/ops/pipelines/static-pipeline.yaml
@@ -46,6 +46,24 @@ steps:
         exit 1
       fi
 
+  # After duck, on success, create a gcroot if the build branch is
+  # canon.
+  #
+  # We care that this anchors *most* of the depot, in practice it's
+  # unimportant if there is a build race and we get +-1 of the
+  # targets.
+  #
+  # Unfortunately this requires a third evaluation of the graph, but
+  # since it happens after :duck: it should not affect the timing of
+  # status reporting back to Gerrit.
+  - label: ":anchor:"
+    if: "build.branch == 'refs/heads/canon'"
+    command: |
+      nix-instantiate -A ci.gcroot --add-root /nix/var/nix/gcroots/depot/canon
+    depends_on:
+      - step: ":duck:"
+        allow_failure: false
+
   # Create a revision number for the current commit for builds on
   # canon.
   #