diff --git a/core/java/android/annotation/SystemApi.java b/core/java/android/annotation/SystemApi.java
index 55028ebfa8fd0..e96ff01d0850f 100644
--- a/core/java/android/annotation/SystemApi.java
+++ b/core/java/android/annotation/SystemApi.java
@@ -39,6 +39,6 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Target;
  * @hide
  */
 @Target({TYPE, FIELD, METHOD, CONSTRUCTOR, ANNOTATION_TYPE, PACKAGE})
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.SOURCE)
+@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
 public @interface SystemApi {
 }