diff --git a/core/java/android/app/admin/DevicePolicyManager.java b/core/java/android/app/admin/DevicePolicyManager.java
index 7855b927d313b..51deb87e1779b 100644
--- a/core/java/android/app/admin/DevicePolicyManager.java
+++ b/core/java/android/app/admin/DevicePolicyManager.java
@@ -7826,7 +7826,8 @@ public class DevicePolicyManager {
      * See {@link #getBindDeviceAdminTargetUsers} for a definition of which
      * device/profile owners are allowed to bind to services of another profile/device owner.
      * <p>
-     * The service must be unexported. Note that the {@link Context} used to obtain this
+     * The service must be protected by {@link android.Manifest.permission#BIND_DEVICE_ADMIN}.
+     * Note that the {@link Context} used to obtain this
      * {@link DevicePolicyManager} instance via {@link Context#getSystemService(Class)} will be used
      * to bind to the {@link android.app.Service}.
      *
diff --git a/services/devicepolicy/java/com/android/server/devicepolicy/DevicePolicyManagerService.java b/services/devicepolicy/java/com/android/server/devicepolicy/DevicePolicyManagerService.java
index e82ba9cee9191..87cbc52b2f131 100644
--- a/services/devicepolicy/java/com/android/server/devicepolicy/DevicePolicyManagerService.java
+++ b/services/devicepolicy/java/com/android/server/devicepolicy/DevicePolicyManagerService.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.android.server.devicepolicy;
 
+import static android.Manifest.permission.BIND_DEVICE_ADMIN;
 import static android.Manifest.permission.MANAGE_CA_CERTIFICATES;
 import static android.app.admin.DevicePolicyManager.CODE_ACCOUNTS_NOT_EMPTY;
 import static android.app.admin.DevicePolicyManager.CODE_ADD_MANAGED_PROFILE_DISALLOWED;
@@ -10844,8 +10845,10 @@ public class DevicePolicyManagerService extends IDevicePolicyManager.Stub {
         if (!expectedPackageName.equals(info.serviceInfo.packageName)) {
             throw new SecurityException("Only allow to bind service in " + expectedPackageName);
         }
-        if (info.serviceInfo.exported) {
-            throw new SecurityException("The service must be unexported");
+        // STOPSHIP(b/37624960): Remove info.serviceInfo.exported before release.
+        if (info.serviceInfo.exported && !BIND_DEVICE_ADMIN.equals(info.serviceInfo.permission)) {
+            throw new SecurityException(
+                    "Service must be protected by BIND_DEVICE_ADMIN permission");
         }
         // It is the system server to bind the service, it would be extremely dangerous if it
         // can be exploited to bind any service. Set the component explicitly to make sure we