--- a/mobile/android/gradle.configure
+++ b/mobile/android/gradle.configure
@@ -4,16 +4,17 @@
 # License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
 # file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
 
 # If --with-gradle is specified, build mobile/android with Gradle.  If no
 # Gradle binary is specified, or if --without-gradle is specified, use the in
 # tree Gradle wrapper.  The wrapper downloads and installs Gradle, which is
 # good for local developers but not good in automation.
 option('--with-gradle', nargs='?',
+       default=True,
        help='Enable building mobile/android with Gradle '
             '(argument: location of binary or wrapper (gradle/gradlew))')
 
 @depends('--with-gradle')
 def with_gradle(value):
     if value:
         return True