diff --git a/local-cli/templates/HelloWorld/android/build.gradle b/local-cli/templates/HelloWorld/android/build.gradle
index 49569e4db5f7e7..6681a63f1b6096 100644
--- a/local-cli/templates/HelloWorld/android/build.gradle
+++ b/local-cli/templates/HelloWorld/android/build.gradle
@@ -38,3 +38,14 @@ ext {
     targetSdkVersion = 26
     supportLibVersion = "26.1.0"
 }
+
+subprojects { subproject ->
+    afterEvaluate {
+        if ((subproject.plugins.hasPlugin('android') || subproject.plugins.hasPlugin('android-library'))) {
+            android {
+                compileSdkVersion rootProject.ext.compileSdkVersion
+                buildToolsVersion rootProject.ext.buildToolsVersion
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}