diff --git a/java/app.go b/java/app.go
index 7d509ee..5577cdf 100755
--- a/java/app.go
+++ b/java/app.go
@@ -112,7 +112,9 @@
 	IsCoverageVariant bool `blueprint:"mutated"`
 
 	// Whether this app is considered mainline updatable or not. When set to true, this will enforce
-	// additional rules for making sure that the APK is truly updatable. Default is false.
+	// additional rules to make sure an app can safely be updated. Default is false.
+	// Prefer using other specific properties if build behaviour must be changed; avoid using this
+	// flag for anything but neverallow rules (unless the behaviour change is invisible to owners).
 	Updatable *bool
 }
 
@@ -262,6 +264,9 @@
 		if !a.sdkVersion().stable() {
 			ctx.PropertyErrorf("sdk_version", "Updatable apps must use stable SDKs, found %v", a.sdkVersion())
 		}
+		if String(a.deviceProperties.Min_sdk_version) == "" {
+			ctx.PropertyErrorf("updatable", "updatable apps must set min_sdk_version.")
+		}
 	}
 
 	a.checkPlatformAPI(ctx)
diff --git a/java/app_test.go b/java/app_test.go
index 7b04e46..4178d5e 100644
--- a/java/app_test.go
+++ b/java/app_test.go
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					sdk_version: "29",
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 					updatable: true,
 				}`,
 		},
@@ -285,6 +286,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					sdk_version: "system_29",
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 					updatable: true,
 				}`,
 		},
@@ -294,6 +296,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					sdk_version: "current",
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 					updatable: true,
 				}`,
 		},
@@ -303,6 +306,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					sdk_version: "system_current",
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 					updatable: true,
 				}`,
 		},
@@ -312,6 +316,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					sdk_version: "module_current",
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 					updatable: true,
 				}`,
 		},
@@ -321,6 +326,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					sdk_version: "core_current",
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 					updatable: true,
 				}`,
 		},
@@ -330,6 +336,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					platform_apis: true,
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 					updatable: true,
 				}`,
 			expectedError: "Updatable apps must use stable SDKs",
@@ -340,6 +347,7 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					sdk_version: "core_platform",
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 					updatable: true,
 				}`,
 			expectedError: "Updatable apps must use stable SDKs",
@@ -350,9 +358,20 @@
 					name: "foo",
 					srcs: ["a.java"],
 					updatable: true,
+					min_sdk_version: "29",
 				}`,
 			expectedError: "Updatable apps must use stable SDK",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "Must specify min_sdk_version",
+			bp: `android_app {
+					name: "app_without_min_sdk_version",
+					srcs: ["a.java"],
+					sdk_version: "29",
+					updatable: true,
+				}`,
+			expectedError: "updatable apps must set min_sdk_version.",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range testCases {