diff --git a/common/build.gradle.kts b/common/build.gradle.kts
index 13eae8fc688a..9f7475e7a8ee 100644
--- a/common/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/common/build.gradle.kts
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@ kotlin {
 }
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation(libs.json)
+    // #20852: JSON must be compile-time only: Bundling `org.json:json` into the APK ships a second
+    // copy with a different field schema (vs the system version in `android.jar`)
+    compileOnly(libs.json)
+    testImplementation(libs.json)
     implementation(libs.androidx.annotation)
     implementation(libs.slf4j.api)