diff --git a/android/build.gradle b/android/build.gradle
index fa6963f8..36e9df46 100755
--- a/android/build.gradle
+++ b/android/build.gradle
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 buildscript {
+    // Simple helper that allows the root project to override versions declared by this library.
+    ext.safeExtGet = { prop, fallback ->
+        rootProject.ext.has(prop) ? rootProject.ext.get(prop) : fallback
+    }
+
     ext {
-        kotlinVersion = '1.6.0'
         buildToolsVersion = '29.0.2'
         compileSdkVersion = 29
         targetSdkVersion = 29
         minSdkVersion = 18
     }
+    ext.kotlinVersion = safeExtGet('kotlinVersion', '1.6.0')
     ext.detoxKotlinVersion = ext.kotlinVersion
 
     repositories {
@@ -26,10 +31,6 @@ def DEFAULT_COMPILE_SDK_VERSION = 28
 def DEFAULT_BUILD_TOOLS_VERSION = "28.0.3"
 def DEFAULT_TARGET_SDK_VERSION = 28
 
-def safeExtGet(prop, fallback) {
-    rootProject.ext.has(prop) ? rootProject.ext.get(prop) : fallback
-}
-
 android {
     compileSdkVersion safeExtGet('compileSdkVersion', DEFAULT_COMPILE_SDK_VERSION)
     buildToolsVersion safeExtGet('buildToolsVersion', DEFAULT_BUILD_TOOLS_VERSION)