diff --git a/ci/licenses_golden/licenses_flutter b/ci/licenses_golden/licenses_flutter
index 12d3b72cb894b..d4da90cfefd7c 100644
--- a/ci/licenses_golden/licenses_flutter
+++ b/ci/licenses_golden/licenses_flutter
@@ -612,6 +612,7 @@ FILE: ../../../flutter/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugin
 FILE: ../../../flutter/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/contentprovider/ContentProviderAware.java
 FILE: ../../../flutter/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/contentprovider/ContentProviderControlSurface.java
 FILE: ../../../flutter/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/contentprovider/ContentProviderPluginBinding.java
+FILE: ../../../flutter/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/lifecycle/HiddenLifecycleReference.java
 FILE: ../../../flutter/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/service/ServiceAware.java
 FILE: ../../../flutter/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/service/ServiceControlSurface.java
 FILE: ../../../flutter/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/service/ServicePluginBinding.java
diff --git a/shell/platform/android/BUILD.gn b/shell/platform/android/BUILD.gn
index c2f3d1f41e32f..1939249a7411a 100644
--- a/shell/platform/android/BUILD.gn
+++ b/shell/platform/android/BUILD.gn
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ android_java_sources = [
   "io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/contentprovider/ContentProviderAware.java",
   "io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/contentprovider/ContentProviderControlSurface.java",
   "io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/contentprovider/ContentProviderPluginBinding.java",
+  "io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/lifecycle/HiddenLifecycleReference.java",
   "io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/service/ServiceAware.java",
   "io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/service/ServiceControlSurface.java",
   "io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/service/ServicePluginBinding.java",
diff --git a/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/FlutterPlugin.java b/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/FlutterPlugin.java
index 3202d15dd45c8..356ec9be406b6 100644
--- a/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/FlutterPlugin.java
+++ b/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/FlutterPlugin.java
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@
 package io.flutter.embedding.engine.plugins;
 
 import android.arch.lifecycle.Lifecycle;
-import android.arch.lifecycle.LifecycleOwner;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
 
 import io.flutter.embedding.engine.FlutterEngine;
+import io.flutter.embedding.engine.plugins.lifecycle.HiddenLifecycleReference;
 
 /**
  * Interface to be implemented by all Flutter plugins.
@@ -93,10 +93,10 @@ public interface FlutterPlugin {
    * concerned about which Android Component is currently holding the {@link FlutterEngine}.
    * TODO(mattcarroll): add info about ActivityAware and ServiceAware for plugins that care.
    */
-  class FlutterPluginBinding implements LifecycleOwner {
+  class FlutterPluginBinding {
         private final Context applicationContext;
         private final FlutterEngine flutterEngine;
-        private final Lifecycle lifecycle;
+        private final HiddenLifecycleReference hiddenLifecycleReference;
 
         public FlutterPluginBinding(
             @NonNull Context applicationContext,
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public FlutterPluginBinding(
         ) {
             this.applicationContext = applicationContext;
             this.flutterEngine = flutterEngine;
-            this.lifecycle = lifecycle;
+            this.hiddenLifecycleReference = new HiddenLifecycleReference(lifecycle);
         }
 
         @NonNull
@@ -118,10 +118,9 @@ public FlutterEngine getFlutterEngine() {
             return flutterEngine;
         }
 
-        @Override
         @NonNull
-        public Lifecycle getLifecycle() {
-            return lifecycle;
+        public Object getLifecycle() {
+            return hiddenLifecycleReference;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/lifecycle/HiddenLifecycleReference.java b/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/lifecycle/HiddenLifecycleReference.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..34b4cb90ceaaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell/platform/android/io/flutter/embedding/engine/plugins/lifecycle/HiddenLifecycleReference.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// Copyright 2013 The Flutter Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
+// found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package io.flutter.embedding.engine.plugins.lifecycle;
+
+import android.arch.lifecycle.Lifecycle;
+import android.support.annotation.Keep;
+import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
+
+/**
+ * An {@code Object} that can be used to obtain a {@link Lifecycle} reference.
+ * <p>
+ * <strong>DO NOT USE THIS CLASS IN AN APP OR A PLUGIN.</strong>
+ * <p>
+ * This class is used by the flutter_android_lifecycle package to provide access to a
+ * {@link Lifecycle} in a way that makes it easier for Flutter and the Flutter plugin ecosystem to
+ * handle breaking changes in Lifecycle libraries.
+ */
+@Keep
+public class HiddenLifecycleReference {
+  @NonNull
+  private final Lifecycle lifecycle;
+
+  public HiddenLifecycleReference(@NonNull Lifecycle lifecycle) {
+    this.lifecycle = lifecycle;
+  }
+
+  @NonNull
+  public Lifecycle getLifecycle() {
+    return lifecycle;
+  }
+}