diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/build.py b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/build.py
index 6885a333df..74899069f3 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/build.py
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/build.py
@@ -497,6 +497,12 @@ def make_package(args):
         sdk_dir = fileh.read().strip()
     sdk_dir = sdk_dir[8:]
 
+    if args.android_target_sdk_version == -1:
+        args.android_target_sdk_version = android_api
+    if args.android_target_sdk_version != android_api:
+        print(f'WARNING: android_target_sdk_version ({args.android_target_sdk_version}) '
+              f'was set explicitly, and it does not match android_api ({android_api}).')
+
     # Try to build with the newest available build tools
     ignored = {".DS_Store", ".ds_store"}
     build_tools_versions = [x for x in listdir(join(sdk_dir, 'build-tools')) if x not in ignored]
@@ -805,6 +811,9 @@ def parse_args_and_make_package(args=None):
                     action='store_true',
                     help=('Allow the --minsdk argument to be different from '
                           'the discovered ndk_api in the dist'))
+    ap.add_argument('--android-target-sdk-version', dest='android_target_sdk_version',
+                    default=-1, type=int,
+                    help='targetSdkVersion to put in manifest. Matches android-api by default.')
     ap.add_argument('--intent-filters', dest='intent_filters',
                     help=('Add intent-filters xml rules to the '
                           'AndroidManifest.xml file. The argument is a '
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/templates/build.tmpl.gradle b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/templates/build.tmpl.gradle
index bb000393a4..2f944dfd93 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/templates/build.tmpl.gradle
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/templates/build.tmpl.gradle
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ android {
     buildToolsVersion '{{ build_tools_version }}'
     defaultConfig {
         minSdkVersion {{ args.min_sdk_version }}
-        targetSdkVersion {{ android_api }}
+        targetSdkVersion {{ args.android_target_sdk_version }}
         versionCode {{ args.numeric_version }}
         versionName '{{ args.version }}'
         manifestPlaceholders = {{ args.manifest_placeholders}}
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
index 27b2f19433..e1c3899e59 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/sdl2/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     />
 
     <!-- Android 2.3.3 -->
-    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="{{ args.min_sdk_version }}" android:targetSdkVersion="{{ android_api }}" />
+    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="{{ args.min_sdk_version }}" android:targetSdkVersion="{{ args.android_target_sdk_version }}" />
 
     <!-- OpenGL ES 2.0 -->
     <uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00020000" />
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/service_library/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/service_library/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
index f667651780..91eb1a5dca 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/service_library/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/service_library/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
       android:versionName="{{ args.version }}">
 
     <!-- Android 2.3.3 -->
-    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="{{ args.min_sdk_version }}" android:targetSdkVersion="{{ android_api }}" />
+    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="{{ args.min_sdk_version }}" android:targetSdkVersion="{{ args.android_target_sdk_version }}" />
 
     <application {% if debug %}android:debuggable="true"{% endif %} >
         {% for name in service_names %}
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/service_only/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/service_only/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
index d19ed32931..701dd887b5 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/service_only/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/service_only/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     />
 
     <!-- Android 2.3.3 -->
-    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="{{ args.min_sdk_version }}" android:targetSdkVersion="{{ android_api }}" />
+    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="{{ args.min_sdk_version }}" android:targetSdkVersion="{{ args.android_target_sdk_version }}" />
 
     <!-- Set permissions -->
     {% for perm in args.permissions %}
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/webview/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/webview/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
index f77533b1e6..a7e495b1fd 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/webview/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/webview/build/templates/AndroidManifest.tmpl.xml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     />
 
     <!-- Android 2.3.3 -->
-    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="{{ args.min_sdk_version }}" android:targetSdkVersion="{{ android_api }}" />
+    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="{{ args.min_sdk_version }}" android:targetSdkVersion="{{ args.android_target_sdk_version }}" />
 
     <!-- Allow writing to external storage -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
diff --git a/tests/test_build.py b/tests/test_build.py
index 6d30f996e7..2bb119c23a 100644
--- a/tests/test_build.py
+++ b/tests/test_build.py
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ class TestTemplates(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_android_manifest_xml(self):
         args = mock.Mock()
         args.min_sdk_version = 12
+        android_api = 1234
+        args.android_target_sdk_version = android_api
         args.build_mode = 'debug'
         args.native_services = ['abcd', ]
         args.permissions = []
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ def test_android_manifest_xml(self):
             "args": args,
             "service": False,
             "service_names": [],
-            "android_api": 1234,
+            "android_api": android_api,
             "debug": "debug" in args.build_mode,
             "native_services": args.native_services
         }