diff --git a/packages/gradle-plugin/react-native-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/com/facebook/react/ReactExtension.kt b/packages/gradle-plugin/react-native-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/com/facebook/react/ReactExtension.kt
index e30fae1cf95..b0fc9562d94 100644
--- a/packages/gradle-plugin/react-native-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/com/facebook/react/ReactExtension.kt
+++ b/packages/gradle-plugin/react-native-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/com/facebook/react/ReactExtension.kt
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ abstract class ReactExtension @Inject constructor(val project: Project) {
    *
    * @param method The method to use for linking dependencies. By default, it is `implementation`.
    */
-  fun autolinkLibrariesWithApp(method: String?) {
+  fun autolinkLibrariesWithApp(method: String? = "implementation") {
     val inputFile =
         project.rootProject.layout.buildDirectory
             .file("generated/autolinking/autolinking.json")