diff --git a/cc/strip.go b/cc/strip.go
index a950df8..32ea38d 100644
--- a/cc/strip.go
+++ b/cc/strip.go
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@
 // StripProperties defines the type of stripping applied to the module.
 type StripProperties struct {
 	Strip struct {
-		// Device and host modules default to stripping enabled leaving mini debuginfo.
-		// This can be disabled by setting none to true.
+		// Device modules default to stripping enabled leaving mini debuginfo.
+		// Host modules default to stripping disabled, but can be enabled by setting any other
+		// strip boolean property.
 		None *bool `android:"arch_variant"`
 
 		// all forces stripping everything, including the mini debug info.
@@ -50,7 +51,12 @@
 // NeedsStrip determines if stripping is required for a module.
 func (stripper *Stripper) NeedsStrip(actx android.ModuleContext) bool {
 	forceDisable := Bool(stripper.StripProperties.Strip.None)
-	return !forceDisable
+	// Strip is enabled by default for device variants.
+	defaultEnable := actx.Device()
+	forceEnable := Bool(stripper.StripProperties.Strip.All) ||
+		Bool(stripper.StripProperties.Strip.Keep_symbols) ||
+		Bool(stripper.StripProperties.Strip.Keep_symbols_and_debug_frame)
+	return !forceDisable && (forceEnable || defaultEnable)
 }
 
 func (stripper *Stripper) strip(actx android.ModuleContext, in android.Path, out android.ModuleOutPath,