diff --git a/tools/layoutlib/bridge/src/com/android/layoutlib/bridge/android/BridgeContext.java b/tools/layoutlib/bridge/src/com/android/layoutlib/bridge/android/BridgeContext.java
index a0b2977018698..1b3b563fb51e2 100644
--- a/tools/layoutlib/bridge/src/com/android/layoutlib/bridge/android/BridgeContext.java
+++ b/tools/layoutlib/bridge/src/com/android/layoutlib/bridge/android/BridgeContext.java
@@ -374,7 +374,9 @@ public final class BridgeContext extends Context {
             return true;
         }
 
-        return false;
+        // If the value is not a valid reference, fallback to pass the value as a string.
+        outValue.string = value.getValue();
+        return true;
     }