diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e61533a5d..9ec88ec6c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -173,16 +173,17 @@ android-lib: android-lib-$(ANDROID_ABI)
 
 # Builds the selected/default Android library
 android: android-lib-$(ANDROID_ABI)
-	cd android/java && ./gradlew --parallel-threads=$(JOBS) build
+	cd android/java && ./gradlew --parallel-threads=$(JOBS) assembleRelease
 
 # Builds all android architectures.
 android-all: $(ANDROID_ABIS)
-	cd android/java && ./gradlew --parallel-threads=$(JOBS) build
+	cd android/java && ./gradlew --parallel-threads=$(JOBS) assembleRelease
 
 # Full build of GL Core for each architecture, build the Android Library, publish to Maven Central
 android-deploy: $(ANDROID_ABIS)
 	cd android/java/MapboxGLAndroidSDK && chmod ugo+x deploy.sh && ./deploy.sh
 
+android-project: android-lib
 
 ##### Render builds ############################################################