diff --git a/.github/.OwlBot.lock.yaml b/.github/.OwlBot.lock.yaml
index 2b48c81e37..f8a8575314 100644
--- a/.github/.OwlBot.lock.yaml
+++ b/.github/.OwlBot.lock.yaml
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 docker:
   image: gcr.io/cloud-devrel-public-resources/owlbot-java:latest
-  digest: sha256:4566cf7fcd0eece77705330267b2b61a70165711c7829d049b60bc2f1bbcd74e
+  digest: sha256:bd5071596a47614d1fe15eb766c4255bae330f823b606e1196a3b0c8d2e96fd1
diff --git a/.kokoro/requirements.txt b/.kokoro/requirements.txt
index 1dfe630412..4895c9631f 100644
--- a/.kokoro/requirements.txt
+++ b/.kokoro/requirements.txt
@@ -307,31 +307,29 @@ packaging==21.3 \
     --hash=sha256:dd47c42927d89ab911e606518907cc2d3a1f38bbd026385970643f9c5b8ecfeb \
     --hash=sha256:ef103e05f519cdc783ae24ea4e2e0f508a9c99b2d4969652eed6a2e1ea5bd522
     # via gcp-releasetool
-protobuf==3.20.1 \
-    --hash=sha256:06059eb6953ff01e56a25cd02cca1a9649a75a7e65397b5b9b4e929ed71d10cf \
-    --hash=sha256:097c5d8a9808302fb0da7e20edf0b8d4703274d140fd25c5edabddcde43e081f \
-    --hash=sha256:284f86a6207c897542d7e956eb243a36bb8f9564c1742b253462386e96c6b78f \
-    --hash=sha256:32ca378605b41fd180dfe4e14d3226386d8d1b002ab31c969c366549e66a2bb7 \
-    --hash=sha256:3cc797c9d15d7689ed507b165cd05913acb992d78b379f6014e013f9ecb20996 \
-    --hash=sha256:62f1b5c4cd6c5402b4e2d63804ba49a327e0c386c99b1675c8a0fefda23b2067 \
-    --hash=sha256:69ccfdf3657ba59569c64295b7d51325f91af586f8d5793b734260dfe2e94e2c \
-    --hash=sha256:6f50601512a3d23625d8a85b1638d914a0970f17920ff39cec63aaef80a93fb7 \
-    --hash=sha256:7403941f6d0992d40161aa8bb23e12575637008a5a02283a930addc0508982f9 \
-    --hash=sha256:755f3aee41354ae395e104d62119cb223339a8f3276a0cd009ffabfcdd46bb0c \
-    --hash=sha256:77053d28427a29987ca9caf7b72ccafee011257561259faba8dd308fda9a8739 \
-    --hash=sha256:7e371f10abe57cee5021797126c93479f59fccc9693dafd6bd5633ab67808a91 \
-    --hash=sha256:9016d01c91e8e625141d24ec1b20fed584703e527d28512aa8c8707f105a683c \
-    --hash=sha256:9be73ad47579abc26c12024239d3540e6b765182a91dbc88e23658ab71767153 \
-    --hash=sha256:adc31566d027f45efe3f44eeb5b1f329da43891634d61c75a5944e9be6dd42c9 \
-    --hash=sha256:adfc6cf69c7f8c50fd24c793964eef18f0ac321315439d94945820612849c388 \
-    --hash=sha256:af0ebadc74e281a517141daad9d0f2c5d93ab78e9d455113719a45a49da9db4e \
-    --hash=sha256:cb29edb9eab15742d791e1025dd7b6a8f6fcb53802ad2f6e3adcb102051063ab \
-    --hash=sha256:cd68be2559e2a3b84f517fb029ee611546f7812b1fdd0aa2ecc9bc6ec0e4fdde \
-    --hash=sha256:cdee09140e1cd184ba9324ec1df410e7147242b94b5f8b0c64fc89e38a8ba531 \
-    --hash=sha256:db977c4ca738dd9ce508557d4fce0f5aebd105e158c725beec86feb1f6bc20d8 \
-    --hash=sha256:dd5789b2948ca702c17027c84c2accb552fc30f4622a98ab5c51fcfe8c50d3e7 \
-    --hash=sha256:e250a42f15bf9d5b09fe1b293bdba2801cd520a9f5ea2d7fb7536d4441811d20 \
-    --hash=sha256:ff8d8fa42675249bb456f5db06c00de6c2f4c27a065955917b28c4f15978b9c3
+protobuf==3.20.2 \
+    --hash=sha256:03d76b7bd42ac4a6e109742a4edf81ffe26ffd87c5993126d894fe48a120396a \
+    --hash=sha256:09e25909c4297d71d97612f04f41cea8fa8510096864f2835ad2f3b3df5a5559 \
+    --hash=sha256:18e34a10ae10d458b027d7638a599c964b030c1739ebd035a1dfc0e22baa3bfe \
+    --hash=sha256:291fb4307094bf5ccc29f424b42268640e00d5240bf0d9b86bf3079f7576474d \
+    --hash=sha256:2c0b040d0b5d5d207936ca2d02f00f765906622c07d3fa19c23a16a8ca71873f \
+    --hash=sha256:384164994727f274cc34b8abd41a9e7e0562801361ee77437099ff6dfedd024b \
+    --hash=sha256:3cb608e5a0eb61b8e00fe641d9f0282cd0eedb603be372f91f163cbfbca0ded0 \
+    --hash=sha256:5d9402bf27d11e37801d1743eada54372f986a372ec9679673bfcc5c60441151 \
+    --hash=sha256:712dca319eee507a1e7df3591e639a2b112a2f4a62d40fe7832a16fd19151750 \
+    --hash=sha256:7a5037af4e76c975b88c3becdf53922b5ffa3f2cddf657574a4920a3b33b80f3 \
+    --hash=sha256:8228e56a865c27163d5d1d1771d94b98194aa6917bcfb6ce139cbfa8e3c27334 \
+    --hash=sha256:84a1544252a933ef07bb0b5ef13afe7c36232a774affa673fc3636f7cee1db6c \
+    --hash=sha256:84fe5953b18a383fd4495d375fe16e1e55e0a3afe7b4f7b4d01a3a0649fcda9d \
+    --hash=sha256:9c673c8bfdf52f903081816b9e0e612186684f4eb4c17eeb729133022d6032e3 \
+    --hash=sha256:a9e5ae5a8e8985c67e8944c23035a0dff2c26b0f5070b2f55b217a1c33bbe8b1 \
+    --hash=sha256:b4fdb29c5a7406e3f7ef176b2a7079baa68b5b854f364c21abe327bbeec01cdb \
+    --hash=sha256:c184485e0dfba4dfd451c3bd348c2e685d6523543a0f91b9fd4ae90eb09e8422 \
+    --hash=sha256:c9cdf251c582c16fd6a9f5e95836c90828d51b0069ad22f463761d27c6c19019 \
+    --hash=sha256:e39cf61bb8582bda88cdfebc0db163b774e7e03364bbf9ce1ead13863e81e359 \
+    --hash=sha256:e8fbc522303e09036c752a0afcc5c0603e917222d8bedc02813fd73b4b4ed804 \
+    --hash=sha256:f34464ab1207114e73bba0794d1257c150a2b89b7a9faf504e00af7c9fd58978 \
+    --hash=sha256:f52dabc96ca99ebd2169dadbe018824ebda08a795c7684a0b7d203a290f3adb0
     # via
     #   gcp-docuploader
     #   gcp-releasetool
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 538864615b..59ea2dd72f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.9.4](https://github.com/googleapis/java-core/compare/v2.9.3...v2.9.4) (2023-01-20)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **java:** Skip fixing poms for special modules ([#1744](https://github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/1744)) ([#1080](https://github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/1080)) ([db2cc2f](https://github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/db2cc2fcd03342948c6c4e753d012d08000e7733))
+
 ## [2.9.3](https://github.com/googleapis/java-core/compare/v2.9.2...v2.9.3) (2023-01-19)
 
 
diff --git a/google-cloud-core-bom/pom.xml b/google-cloud-core-bom/pom.xml
index 2cc461cea6..ac858ffcad 100644
--- a/google-cloud-core-bom/pom.xml
+++ b/google-cloud-core-bom/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core-bom</artifactId>
-  <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
@@ -63,17 +63,17 @@
       <dependency>
         <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
         <artifactId>google-cloud-core</artifactId>
-        <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+        <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
       </dependency>
       <dependency>
         <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
         <artifactId>google-cloud-core-grpc</artifactId>
-        <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+        <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
       </dependency>
       <dependency>
         <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
         <artifactId>google-cloud-core-http</artifactId>
-        <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+        <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
       </dependency>
     </dependencies>
   </dependencyManagement>
diff --git a/google-cloud-core-grpc/pom.xml b/google-cloud-core-grpc/pom.xml
index 85696aae37..c864231f9a 100644
--- a/google-cloud-core-grpc/pom.xml
+++ b/google-cloud-core-grpc/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core-grpc</artifactId>
-  <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <name>Google Cloud Core gRPC</name>
   <url>https://github.com/googleapis/java-core</url>
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
     <artifactId>google-cloud-core-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+    <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   </parent>
   <properties>
     <site.installationModule>google-cloud-core-grpc</site.installationModule>
diff --git a/google-cloud-core-http/pom.xml b/google-cloud-core-http/pom.xml
index f0cfec9c03..703c2a5bf0 100644
--- a/google-cloud-core-http/pom.xml
+++ b/google-cloud-core-http/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core-http</artifactId>
-  <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <name>Google Cloud Core HTTP</name>
   <url>https://github.com/googleapis/java-core</url>
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
     <artifactId>google-cloud-core-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+    <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   </parent>
   <properties>
     <site.installationModule>google-cloud-core-http</site.installationModule>
diff --git a/google-cloud-core/pom.xml b/google-cloud-core/pom.xml
index 6f7f257c5f..2f684f957b 100644
--- a/google-cloud-core/pom.xml
+++ b/google-cloud-core/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core</artifactId>
-  <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <name>Google Cloud Core</name>
   <url>https://github.com/googleapis/java-core</url>
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
     <artifactId>google-cloud-core-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+    <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   </parent>
   <properties>
     <site.installationModule>google-cloud-core</site.installationModule>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 3edaa95319..92bdbe366f 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core-parent</artifactId>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
-  <version>2.9.3</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.9.4</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <name>Google Cloud Core Parent</name>
   <url>https://github.com/googleapis/java-core</url>
   <description>
diff --git a/versions.txt b/versions.txt
index d63b7273cb..7ca9012797 100644
--- a/versions.txt
+++ b/versions.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 # Format:
 # module:released-version:current-version
 
-google-cloud-core:2.9.3:2.9.3
+google-cloud-core:2.9.4:2.9.4