diff --git a/lib/constants.ts b/lib/constants.ts
index 5145ac96ec..bf62d587fb 100644
--- a/lib/constants.ts
+++ b/lib/constants.ts
@@ -205,3 +205,5 @@ export class ProjectTemplateErrors {
 export class Hooks {
 	public static createProject = "createProject";
 }
+
+export const PACKAGE_PLACEHOLDER_NAME = "__PACKAGE__";
diff --git a/lib/services/android-project-service.ts b/lib/services/android-project-service.ts
index 3567a47783..ea5bdb12b5 100644
--- a/lib/services/android-project-service.ts
+++ b/lib/services/android-project-service.ts
@@ -256,7 +256,10 @@ export class AndroidProjectService extends projectServiceBaseLib.PlatformProject
 
 		try {
 			// will replace applicationId in app/App_Resources/Android/app.gradle if it has not been edited by the user
-			shell.sed('-i', /__PACKAGE__/, projectData.projectId, projectData.appGradlePath);
+			const appGradleContent = this.$fs.readText(projectData.appGradlePath);
+			if (appGradleContent.indexOf(constants.PACKAGE_PLACEHOLDER_NAME) !== -1) {
+				shell.sed('-i', new RegExp(constants.PACKAGE_PLACEHOLDER_NAME), projectData.projectId, projectData.appGradlePath);
+			}
 		} catch (e) {
 			this.$logger.warn(`\n${e}.\nCheck if you're using an outdated template and update it.`);
 		}