diff --git a/java/dex.go b/java/dex.go
index e52fdb5d9..b2a998f78 100644
--- a/java/dex.go
+++ b/java/dex.go
@@ -260,6 +260,9 @@ func (d *dexer) r8Flags(ctx android.ModuleContext, flags javaBuilderFlags) (r8Fl
 		r8Flags = append(r8Flags, "--debug")
 	}
 
+	// TODO(b/180878971): missing classes should be added to the relevant builds.
+	r8Flags = append(r8Flags, "-ignorewarnings")
+
 	return r8Flags, r8Deps
 }