diff --git a/android/prebuilt.go b/android/prebuilt.go
index f29f865..d3f9704 100644
--- a/android/prebuilt.go
+++ b/android/prebuilt.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 type PrebuiltProperties struct {
 	// When prefer is set to true the prebuilt will be used instead of any source module with
 	// a matching name.
-	Prefer bool `android:"arch_variant"`
+	Prefer *bool `android:"arch_variant"`
 
 	SourceExists bool `blueprint:"mutated"`
 	UsePrebuilt  bool `blueprint:"mutated"`
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
 	}
 
 	// TODO: use p.Properties.Name and ctx.ModuleDir to override preference
-	if p.properties.Prefer {
+	if Bool(p.properties.Prefer) {
 		return true
 	}