diff --git a/src/android/barcodescanner.gradle b/src/android/barcodescanner.gradle
index 96edb181..115113d5 100644
--- a/src/android/barcodescanner.gradle
+++ b/src/android/barcodescanner.gradle
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-cdvMinSdkVersion = Math.max(15, cdvHelpers.getConfigPreference('android-minSdkVersion', 0) as Integer)
+def DEFAULT_MIN_SDK_VERSION = 15
+def minSdk = Math.max(DEFAULT_MIN_SDK_VERSION, cdvHelpers.getConfigPreference('android-minSdkVersion',0) as Integer);
+if (cdvMinSdkVersion == null || Integer.parseInt(cdvMinSdkVersion) < minSdk ) {
+    ext.cdvMinSdkVersion = minSdk;
+}
 
 repositories{
     jcenter()