diff --git a/src/plugins/android/androidbuildapkstep.cpp b/src/plugins/android/androidbuildapkstep.cpp
index 868e7e4129d..75df1b3b0ff 100644
--- a/src/plugins/android/androidbuildapkstep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/android/androidbuildapkstep.cpp
@@ -608,14 +608,16 @@ bool AndroidBuildApkStep::init()
     if (m_buildAAB)
         arguments << "--aab" <<  "--jarsigner";
 
+    if (buildType() == BuildConfiguration::Release) {
+        arguments << "--release";
+    }
+
     QStringList argumentsPasswordConcealed = arguments;
 
     if (m_signPackage) {
-        arguments << "--release"
-                  << "--sign" << m_keystorePath.toString() << m_certificateAlias
+        arguments << "--sign" << m_keystorePath.toString() << m_certificateAlias
                   << "--storepass" << m_keystorePasswd;
-        argumentsPasswordConcealed << "--release"
-                                   << "--sign" << "******"
+        argumentsPasswordConcealed << "--sign" << "******"
                                    << "--storepass" << "******";
         if (!m_certificatePasswd.isEmpty()) {
             arguments << "--keypass" << m_certificatePasswd;
diff --git a/src/plugins/android/androiddeployqtstep.cpp b/src/plugins/android/androiddeployqtstep.cpp
index e5bde4a30b7..beeb851118f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/android/androiddeployqtstep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/android/androiddeployqtstep.cpp
@@ -261,6 +261,9 @@ bool AndroidDeployQtStep::init()
 
             m_androiddeployqtArgs.addArg("--gradle");
 
+            if (buildType() == BuildConfiguration::Release)
+                m_androiddeployqtArgs.addArgs({"--release"});
+
             if (androidBuildApkStep && androidBuildApkStep->signPackage()) {
                 // The androiddeployqt tool is not really written to do stand-alone installations.
                 // This hack forces it to use the correct filename for the apk file when installing