diff --git a/tools/gn2bp/gn_utils.py b/tools/gn2bp/gn_utils.py
index 1399fcf..118208c 100644
--- a/tools/gn2bp/gn_utils.py
+++ b/tools/gn2bp/gn_utils.py
@@ -304,9 +304,12 @@
       if dep.type == 'static_library':
         # Bubble up static_libs. Necessary, since soong does not propagate
         # static_libs up the build tree.
-        target.transitive_static_libs_deps.add(dep_name)
-        target.transitive_static_libs_deps.update(dep.transitive_static_libs_deps)
-        target.deps.update(target.transitive_static_libs_deps)
+        # Protobuf dependencies are handled separately.
+        if '//third_party/protobuf' not in dep_name:
+          target.transitive_static_libs_deps.add(dep_name)
+
+      target.transitive_static_libs_deps.update(dep.transitive_static_libs_deps)
+      target.deps.update(target.transitive_static_libs_deps)
 
       # Collect java sources. Java sources are kept inside the __compile_java target.
       # This target can be used for both host and target compilation; only add