diff --git a/java/aar.go b/java/aar.go
index 7d73b03..41cc24a 100644
--- a/java/aar.go
+++ b/java/aar.go
@@ -483,9 +483,9 @@
 	}
 
 	linkFlags = append(linkFlags, "--no-static-lib-packages")
-	if a.isLibrary && a.useResourceProcessorBusyBox(ctx) {
-		// When building an android_library using ResourceProcessorBusyBox pass --merge-only to skip resource
-		// references validation until the final app link step when all static libraries are present.
+	if a.isLibrary {
+		// Pass --merge-only to skip resource references validation until the final
+		// app link step when when all static libraries are present.
 		linkFlags = append(linkFlags, "--merge-only")
 	}