diff --git a/tools/archive_desugar_jdk_libs.py b/tools/archive_desugar_jdk_libs.py
index 048fbe5..2f13541 100755
--- a/tools/archive_desugar_jdk_libs.py
+++ b/tools/archive_desugar_jdk_libs.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
           + version_file + ' is expected to have exactly one line')
     version = lines[0].strip()
     utils.check_basic_semver_version(
-        version, 'in version file ' + version_file_name)
+        version, 'in version file ' + version_file_name, allowPrerelease = True)
     return version