diff --git a/ui/action-bar/action-bar.android.ts b/ui/action-bar/action-bar.android.ts
index 1e35dbb8a..50e476a82 100644
--- a/ui/action-bar/action-bar.android.ts
+++ b/ui/action-bar/action-bar.android.ts
@@ -204,6 +204,10 @@ export class ActionBar extends common.ActionBar {
             this._updateIcon(frame.topmost().android.actionBar);
         }
     }
+
+    public _clearAndroidReference() {
+        // don't clear _android field!
+    }
 }
 
 var setHomeAsUpIndicatorWithResoruceId: java.lang.reflect.Method;