diff --git a/template/android/app/build.gradle b/template/android/app/build.gradle
index 1215ed78d32..a5a0ea4e8bc 100644
--- a/template/android/app/build.gradle
+++ b/template/android/app/build.gradle
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ def jscFlavor = 'org.webkit:android-jsc:+'
 def enableHermes = project.ext.react.get("enableHermes", false);
 
 android {
+    ndkVersion rootProject.ext.ndkVersion
+
     compileSdkVersion rootProject.ext.compileSdkVersion
 
     compileOptions {
diff --git a/template/android/build.gradle b/template/android/build.gradle
index 86351cce876..2bafa1f491c 100644
--- a/template/android/build.gradle
+++ b/template/android/build.gradle
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ buildscript {
         minSdkVersion = 19
         compileSdkVersion = 29
         targetSdkVersion = 29
+        ndkVersion = "20.1.5948944"
     }
     repositories {
         google()