diff --git a/java/app.go b/java/app.go
index a679e88..674e5ec 100644
--- a/java/app.go
+++ b/java/app.go
@@ -191,9 +191,12 @@
 	}
 }
 
+func (a *AndroidTestHelperApp) GenerateAndroidBuildActions(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
+	a.generateAndroidBuildActions(ctx)
+}
+
 func (a *AndroidApp) GenerateAndroidBuildActions(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
-	a.aapt.useEmbeddedNativeLibs = a.useEmbeddedNativeLibs(ctx)
-	a.aapt.useEmbeddedDex = Bool(a.appProperties.Use_embedded_dex)
+	a.checkPlatformAPI(ctx)
 	a.generateAndroidBuildActions(ctx)
 }
 
@@ -422,6 +425,9 @@
 func (a *AndroidApp) generateAndroidBuildActions(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
 	var apkDeps android.Paths
 
+	a.aapt.useEmbeddedNativeLibs = a.useEmbeddedNativeLibs(ctx)
+	a.aapt.useEmbeddedDex = Bool(a.appProperties.Use_embedded_dex)
+
 	// Check if the install APK name needs to be overridden.
 	a.installApkName = ctx.DeviceConfig().OverridePackageNameFor(a.Name())
 
@@ -584,8 +590,6 @@
 			a.additionalAaptFlags = append(a.additionalAaptFlags, "--rename-instrumentation-target-package "+manifestPackageName)
 		}
 	}
-	a.aapt.useEmbeddedNativeLibs = a.useEmbeddedNativeLibs(ctx)
-	a.aapt.useEmbeddedDex = Bool(a.appProperties.Use_embedded_dex)
 	a.generateAndroidBuildActions(ctx)
 
 	a.testConfig = tradefed.AutoGenInstrumentationTestConfig(ctx, a.testProperties.Test_config, a.testProperties.Test_config_template, a.manifestPath, a.testProperties.Test_suites)
diff --git a/java/app_test.go b/java/app_test.go
index 32de019..f6a307e 100644
--- a/java/app_test.go
+++ b/java/app_test.go
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 			ctx := testApp(t, moduleType+` {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current"
 				}
 			`)
 
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					package_splits: ["v4", "v7,hdpi"],
+					sdk_version: "current"
 				}`)
 
 	foo := ctx.ModuleForTests("foo", "android_common")
@@ -139,6 +141,40 @@
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPlatformAPIs(t *testing.T) {
+	testJava(t, `
+		android_app {
+			name: "foo",
+			srcs: ["a.java"],
+			platform_apis: true,
+		}
+	`)
+
+	testJava(t, `
+		android_app {
+			name: "foo",
+			srcs: ["a.java"],
+			sdk_version: "current",
+		}
+	`)
+
+	testJavaError(t, "platform_apis must be true when sdk_version is empty.", `
+		android_app {
+			name: "bar",
+			srcs: ["b.java"],
+		}
+	`)
+
+	testJavaError(t, "platform_apis must be false when sdk_version is not empty.", `
+		android_app {
+			name: "bar",
+			srcs: ["b.java"],
+			sdk_version: "system_current",
+			platform_apis: true,
+		}
+	`)
+}
+
 func TestResourceDirs(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		name      string
@@ -169,6 +205,7 @@
 	bp := `
 			android_app {
 				name: "foo",
+				sdk_version: "current",
 				%s
 			}
 		`
@@ -349,12 +386,14 @@
 	bp := `
 			android_app {
 				name: "foo",
+				sdk_version: "current",
 				resource_dirs: ["foo/res"],
 				static_libs: ["lib", "lib3"],
 			}
 
 			android_app {
 				name: "bar",
+				sdk_version: "current",
 				resource_dirs: ["bar/res"],
 			}
 
@@ -461,6 +500,7 @@
 		platformSdkCodename   string
 		platformSdkFinal      bool
 		expectedMinSdkVersion string
+		platformApis          bool
 	}{
 		{
 			name:                  "current final SDK",
@@ -481,6 +521,7 @@
 		{
 			name:                  "default final SDK",
 			sdkVersion:            "",
+			platformApis:          true,
 			platformSdkInt:        27,
 			platformSdkCodename:   "REL",
 			platformSdkFinal:      true,
@@ -489,6 +530,7 @@
 		{
 			name:                  "default non-final SDK",
 			sdkVersion:            "",
+			platformApis:          true,
 			platformSdkInt:        27,
 			platformSdkCodename:   "OMR1",
 			platformSdkFinal:      false,
@@ -504,11 +546,16 @@
 	for _, moduleType := range []string{"android_app", "android_library"} {
 		for _, test := range testCases {
 			t.Run(moduleType+" "+test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+				platformApiProp := ""
+				if test.platformApis {
+					platformApiProp = "platform_apis: true,"
+				}
 				bp := fmt.Sprintf(`%s {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					sdk_version: "%s",
-				}`, moduleType, test.sdkVersion)
+					%s
+				}`, moduleType, test.sdkVersion, platformApiProp)
 
 				config := testConfig(nil)
 				config.TestProductVariables.Platform_sdk_version = &test.platformSdkInt
@@ -630,18 +677,21 @@
 		android_app {
 			name: "app",
 			jni_libs: ["libjni"],
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		android_app {
 			name: "app_noembed",
 			jni_libs: ["libjni"],
 			use_embedded_native_libs: false,
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		android_app {
 			name: "app_embed",
 			jni_libs: ["libjni"],
 			use_embedded_native_libs: true,
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		android_test {
@@ -715,6 +765,7 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			certificateOverride: "",
@@ -726,7 +777,8 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
-					certificate: ":new_certificate"
+					certificate: ":new_certificate",
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 
 				android_app_certificate {
@@ -743,7 +795,8 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
-					certificate: "expiredkey"
+					certificate: "expiredkey",
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			certificateOverride: "",
@@ -755,7 +808,8 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
-					certificate: "expiredkey"
+					certificate: "expiredkey",
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 
 				android_app_certificate {
@@ -801,6 +855,7 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			packageNameOverride: "",
@@ -815,6 +870,7 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			packageNameOverride: "foo:bar",
@@ -856,11 +912,13 @@
 		android_app {
 			name: "foo",
 			srcs: ["a.java"],
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		android_test {
 			name: "bar",
 			instrumentation_for: "foo",
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 		`
 	config := testConfig(nil)
@@ -885,6 +943,7 @@
 			srcs: ["a.java"],
 			certificate: "expiredkey",
 			overrides: ["qux"],
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		override_android_app {
@@ -984,6 +1043,7 @@
 		android_app {
 			name: "foo",
 			srcs: ["a.java"],
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		override_android_app {
@@ -1253,18 +1313,21 @@
 			name: "foo",
 			srcs: ["a.java"],
 			api_packages: ["foo"],
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		java_sdk_library {
 			name: "bar",
 			srcs: ["a.java"],
 			api_packages: ["bar"],
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		android_app {
 			name: "app",
 			srcs: ["a.java"],
 			uses_libs: ["foo"],
+			sdk_version: "current",
 			optional_uses_libs: [
 				"bar",
 				"baz",
@@ -1339,6 +1402,7 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			noCode: false,
@@ -1348,6 +1412,7 @@
 			bp: `
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			noCode: true,
@@ -1358,11 +1423,13 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					static_libs: ["lib"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 
 				java_library {
 					name: "lib",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			noCode: false,
@@ -1373,10 +1440,12 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					static_libs: ["lib"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 
 				java_library {
 					name: "lib",
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			// TODO(jungjw): this should probably be true
@@ -1406,6 +1475,7 @@
 			jni_libs: ["libjni"],
 			notice: "APP_NOTICE",
 			embed_notices: true,
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		// No embed_notice flag
@@ -1414,6 +1484,7 @@
 			srcs: ["a.java"],
 			jni_libs: ["libjni"],
 			notice: "APP_NOTICE",
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		// No NOTICE files
@@ -1421,6 +1492,7 @@
 			name: "baz",
 			srcs: ["a.java"],
 			embed_notices: true,
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		cc_library {
@@ -1435,6 +1507,7 @@
 			srcs: [
 				":gen",
 			],
+			sdk_version: "current",
 		}
 
 		genrule {
@@ -1510,6 +1583,7 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			uncompressedPlatform:  true,
@@ -1522,6 +1596,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					use_embedded_dex: true,
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			uncompressedPlatform:  true,
@@ -1534,6 +1609,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					privileged: true,
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 			`,
 			uncompressedPlatform:  true,
diff --git a/java/dexpreopt_test.go b/java/dexpreopt_test.go
index 22b7bb9..5550a4c 100644
--- a/java/dexpreopt_test.go
+++ b/java/dexpreopt_test.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}`,
 			enabled: true,
 		},
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@
 			bp: `
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}`,
 			enabled: false,
 		},
@@ -66,11 +68,13 @@
 				android_app {
 					name: "foo",
 					static_libs: ["lib"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}
 
 				java_library {
 					name: "lib",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "current",
 				}`,
 			enabled: true,
 		},
diff --git a/java/java.go b/java/java.go
index 5f4a090..ecafa1e 100644
--- a/java/java.go
+++ b/java/java.go
@@ -52,6 +52,20 @@
 	android.RegisterSingletonType("logtags", LogtagsSingleton)
 }
 
+func (j *Module) checkPlatformAPI(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
+	if sc, ok := ctx.Module().(sdkContext); ok {
+		usePlatformAPI := proptools.Bool(j.deviceProperties.Platform_apis)
+		if usePlatformAPI != (sc.sdkVersion() == "") {
+			if usePlatformAPI {
+				ctx.PropertyErrorf("platform_apis", "platform_apis must be false when sdk_version is not empty.")
+			} else {
+				ctx.PropertyErrorf("platform_apis", "platform_apis must be true when sdk_version is empty.")
+			}
+		}
+
+	}
+}
+
 // TODO:
 // Autogenerated files:
 //  Renderscript
@@ -178,8 +192,8 @@
 	// list of module-specific flags that will be used for dex compiles
 	Dxflags []string `android:"arch_variant"`
 
-	// if not blank, set to the version of the sdk to compile against.  Defaults to compiling against the current
-	// sdk if platform_apis is not set.
+	// if not blank, set to the version of the sdk to compile against.
+	// Defaults to compiling against the current platform.
 	Sdk_version *string
 
 	// if not blank, set the minimum version of the sdk that the compiled artifacts will run against.
@@ -190,7 +204,8 @@
 	// Defaults to sdk_version if not set.
 	Target_sdk_version *string
 
-	// if true, compile against the platform APIs instead of an SDK.
+	// It must be true only if sdk_version is empty.
+	// This field works in only android_app, otherwise nothing happens.
 	Platform_apis *bool
 
 	Aidl struct {
diff --git a/java/java_test.go b/java/java_test.go
index f95f88b..81d1f2c 100644
--- a/java/java_test.go
+++ b/java/java_test.go
@@ -222,6 +222,29 @@
 	android.FailIfErrored(t, errs)
 }
 
+func testJavaError(t *testing.T, pattern string, bp string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	config := testConfig(nil)
+	ctx := testContext(bp, nil)
+
+	pathCtx := android.PathContextForTesting(config, nil)
+	setDexpreoptTestGlobalConfig(config, dexpreopt.GlobalConfigForTests(pathCtx))
+
+	ctx.Register()
+	_, errs := ctx.ParseBlueprintsFiles("Android.bp")
+	if len(errs) > 0 {
+		android.FailIfNoMatchingErrors(t, pattern, errs)
+		return
+	}
+	_, errs = ctx.PrepareBuildActions(config)
+	if len(errs) > 0 {
+		android.FailIfNoMatchingErrors(t, pattern, errs)
+		return
+	}
+
+	t.Fatalf("missing expected error %q (0 errors are returned)", pattern)
+}
+
 func testJava(t *testing.T, bp string) (*android.TestContext, android.Config) {
 	t.Helper()
 	config := testConfig(nil)