diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
index 76792afd61eb4..6a39ac18fd818 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
@@ -26757,14 +26757,18 @@ public class PackageManagerService extends IPackageManager.Stub
                     if (disabledPs != null) {
                         dataOwnerPkg = disabledPs.getPkg();
                     }
-                    try {
-                        checkDowngrade(dataOwnerPkg, pkgLite);
-                    } catch (PackageManagerException e) {
-                        String errorMsg = "System app: " + packageName + " cannot be downgraded to"
-                                + " older than its preloaded version on the system image. "
-                                + e.getMessage();
-                        Slog.w(TAG, errorMsg);
-                        return PackageManager.INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE;
+                    if (!Build.IS_DEBUGGABLE && !dataOwnerPkg.isDebuggable()) {
+                        // Only restrict non-debuggable builds and non-debuggable version of the app
+                        try {
+                            checkDowngrade(dataOwnerPkg, pkgLite);
+                        } catch (PackageManagerException e) {
+                            String errorMsg = "System app: " + packageName
+                                    + " cannot be downgraded to"
+                                    + " older than its preloaded version on the system image. "
+                                    + e.getMessage();
+                            Slog.w(TAG, errorMsg);
+                            return PackageManager.INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE;
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }