diff --git a/java/droiddoc.go b/java/droiddoc.go
index 8b66dbf46..33f422d4e 100644
--- a/java/droiddoc.go
+++ b/java/droiddoc.go
@@ -253,6 +253,10 @@ type DroidstubsProperties struct {
 	// if set to true, allow Metalava to generate doc_stubs source files. Defaults to false.
 	Create_doc_stubs *bool
 
+	// if set to true, cause Metalava to output Javadoc comments in the stubs source files. Defaults to false.
+	// Has no effect if create_doc_stubs: true.
+	Output_javadoc_comments *bool
+
 	// if set to false then do not write out stubs. Defaults to true.
 	//
 	// TODO(b/146727827): Remove capability when we do not need to generate stubs and API separately.
@@ -1150,7 +1154,9 @@ func (d *Droidstubs) stubsFlags(ctx android.ModuleContext, cmd *android.RuleBuil
 			cmd.FlagWithArg("--doc-stubs ", stubsDir.String())
 		} else {
 			cmd.FlagWithArg("--stubs ", stubsDir.String())
-			cmd.Flag("--exclude-documentation-from-stubs")
+			if !Bool(d.properties.Output_javadoc_comments) {
+				cmd.Flag("--exclude-documentation-from-stubs")
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/java/sdk_library.go b/java/sdk_library.go
index a7b92b3a8..0d29a3763 100644
--- a/java/sdk_library.go
+++ b/java/sdk_library.go
@@ -1203,6 +1203,7 @@ func (module *SdkLibrary) createStubsSourcesAndApi(mctx android.DefaultableHookC
 		Sdk_version                      *string
 		System_modules                   *string
 		Libs                             []string
+		Output_javadoc_comments          *bool
 		Arg_files                        []string
 		Args                             *string
 		Java_version                     *string
@@ -1278,6 +1279,11 @@ func (module *SdkLibrary) createStubsSourcesAndApi(mctx android.DefaultableHookC
 	}
 	droidstubsArgs = append(droidstubsArgs, android.JoinWithPrefix(disabledWarnings, "--hide "))
 
+	// Output Javadoc comments for public scope.
+	if apiScope == apiScopePublic {
+		props.Output_javadoc_comments = proptools.BoolPtr(true)
+	}
+
 	// Add in scope specific arguments.
 	droidstubsArgs = append(droidstubsArgs, scopeSpecificDroidstubsArgs...)
 	props.Arg_files = module.sdkLibraryProperties.Droiddoc_option_files