diff --git a/java/config/config.go b/java/config/config.go
index 930e65e..75176c9 100644
--- a/java/config/config.go
+++ b/java/config/config.go
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@
 			return path.String(), nil
 		}
 	})
-
 	pctx.HostBinToolVariable("D8Cmd", "d8")
+	pctx.HostBinToolVariable("R8Cmd", "r8-compat-proguard")
 
 	pctx.VariableFunc("TurbineJar", func(config android.Config) (string, error) {
 		turbine := "turbine.jar"
diff --git a/java/config/makevars.go b/java/config/makevars.go
index c382cc1..7e125d5 100644
--- a/java/config/makevars.go
+++ b/java/config/makevars.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 		ctx.Strict("DX_COMMAND", "${DxCmd} -JXms16M -JXmx2048M")
 		ctx.Strict("USE_D8_DESUGAR", "false")
 	}
+	ctx.Strict("R8_COMPAT_PROGUARD", "${R8Cmd}")
 
 	ctx.Strict("TURBINE", "${TurbineJar}")