diff --git a/java/robolectric.go b/java/robolectric.go
index 18386c9..cb22fa0 100644
--- a/java/robolectric.go
+++ b/java/robolectric.go
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
 
 	if v := String(r.robolectricProperties.Robolectric_prebuilt_version); v != "" {
 		ctx.AddVariationDependencies(nil, libTag, fmt.Sprintf(robolectricPrebuiltLibPattern, v))
-	} else if !proptools.Bool(r.robolectricProperties.Strict_mode) {
+	} else if !proptools.BoolDefault(r.robolectricProperties.Strict_mode, true) {
 		if proptools.Bool(r.robolectricProperties.Upstream) {
 			ctx.AddVariationDependencies(nil, libTag, robolectricCurrentLib+"_upstream")
 		} else {
@@ -124,8 +124,11 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	if proptools.Bool(r.robolectricProperties.Strict_mode) {
+	if proptools.BoolDefault(r.robolectricProperties.Strict_mode, true) {
 		ctx.AddVariationDependencies(nil, roboRuntimeOnlyTag, robolectricCurrentLib+"_upstream")
+	} else {
+		// opting out from strict mode, robolectric_non_strict_mode_permission lib should be added
+		ctx.AddVariationDependencies(nil, libTag, "robolectric_non_strict_mode_permission")
 	}
 
 	ctx.AddVariationDependencies(nil, libTag, robolectricDefaultLibs...)