diff --git a/android/app/build.gradle b/android/app/build.gradle
index c6dfcb75..5c2b7bb7 100644
--- a/android/app/build.gradle
+++ b/android/app/build.gradle
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ def keystoreProperties = new Properties()
 def keystorePropertiesFile = rootProject.file('key.properties')
 if (keystorePropertiesFile.exists()) {
     keystoreProperties.load(new FileInputStream(keystorePropertiesFile))
-} else {
+}
+if (!keystoreProperties.containsKey('keyAlias')) {
     // to simplify local development
     keystoreProperties['keyAlias'] = 'local'
     keystoreProperties['keyPassword'] = 'local'