diff --git a/tools/bazel.rc b/tools/bazel.rc
index 1c1e6afb65a..03aa52da1f6 100644
--- a/tools/bazel.rc
+++ b/tools/bazel.rc
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
+# By default, we don't distinct target and host platfroms.
+# When doing cross compilation, use --config=cross_compile to distinct them.
+build --distinct_host_configuration=false
+build:cross_compile --distinct_host_configuration=true
+
 # Android configs. Bazel needs to have --cpu and --fat_apk_cpu both set to the
 # target CPU to build transient dependencies correctly. See
 # https://docs.bazel.build/versions/master/user-manual.html#flag--fat_apk_cpu
 build:android --crosstool_top=//external:android/crosstool
 build:android --host_crosstool_top=@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:toolchain
+build:android --config=cross_compile
 build:android_arm --config=android
 build:android_arm --cpu=armeabi-v7a
 build:android_arm --fat_apk_cpu=armeabi-v7a