diff --git a/java/droiddoc.go b/java/droiddoc.go
index 4c5f66c..67892d4 100644
--- a/java/droiddoc.go
+++ b/java/droiddoc.go
@@ -1464,7 +1464,7 @@
 	// Metalava uses lots of memory, restrict the number of metalava jobs that can run in parallel.
 	rule.HighMem()
 	cmd := rule.Command()
-	if ctx.Config().IsEnvTrue("RBE_METALAVA") {
+	if ctx.Config().UseRBE() && ctx.Config().IsEnvTrue("RBE_METALAVA") {
 		rule.Remoteable(android.RemoteRuleSupports{RBE: true})
 		pool := ctx.Config().GetenvWithDefault("RBE_METALAVA_POOL", "metalava")
 		execStrategy := ctx.Config().GetenvWithDefault("RBE_METALAVA_EXEC_STRATEGY", remoteexec.LocalExecStrategy)