diff --git a/android/README.md b/android/README.md
index 356bb4ce..9ef07364 100644
--- a/android/README.md
+++ b/android/README.md
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ To run the demo app, you'll need a Stadia Maps API key
 (free for development and evaluation use; no credit card required; get one at https://client.stadiamaps.com/).
 You can also modify it to work with your preferred maps and routing vendor by editing `AppModule.kt`.
 
-Set your API key in `local.properties` to run the demo app:
+Set your API key in `local.properties` to run the demo app
+(it is functional with demo tiles and routing, but only for limited testing):
 
 ```properties
 stadiaApiKey=YOUR-API-KEY
diff --git a/android/demo-app/build.gradle b/android/demo-app/build.gradle
index eb588330..ffe78c66 100644
--- a/android/demo-app/build.gradle
+++ b/android/demo-app/build.gradle
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ plugins {
     alias libs.plugins.jetbrainsKotlinAndroid
     alias libs.plugins.ktfmt
     alias libs.plugins.compose.compiler
-    alias libs.plugins.mapsplatform.secrets.plugin
 }
 
 android {
@@ -21,6 +20,12 @@ android {
         vectorDrawables {
             useSupportLibrary true
         }
+
+        Properties properties = new Properties()
+        properties.load(project.rootProject.file("local.properties").newDataInputStream())
+
+        android.buildFeatures.buildConfig true
+        buildConfigField "String", "stadiaApiKey", "\"${properties.getProperty("stadiaApiKey")}\""
     }
 
     buildTypes {
diff --git a/android/demo-app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/android/demo-app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 9821568b..dcdc85d7 100644
--- a/android/demo-app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/android/demo-app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -21,12 +21,6 @@
         android:theme="@style/Theme.Ferrostar"
         tools:targetApi="31">
 
-        <!--
-            Set a value for stadiaApiKey in local.properties.
-            You can get an API key (no credit card required; free for development and evaluation) at client.stadiamaps.com
-        -->
-        <meta-data android:name="stadiaApiKey" android:value="${stadiaApiKey}" />
-
         <activity
             android:name="com.stadiamaps.ferrostar.MainActivity"
             android:exported="true"
diff --git a/android/demo-app/src/main/java/com/stadiamaps/ferrostar/AppModule.kt b/android/demo-app/src/main/java/com/stadiamaps/ferrostar/AppModule.kt
index 2bcd2ded..3b150bcc 100644
--- a/android/demo-app/src/main/java/com/stadiamaps/ferrostar/AppModule.kt
+++ b/android/demo-app/src/main/java/com/stadiamaps/ferrostar/AppModule.kt
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package com.stadiamaps.ferrostar
 
 import android.content.Context
-import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import android.util.Log
 import com.stadiamaps.ferrostar.composeui.notification.DefaultForegroundNotificationBuilder
 import com.stadiamaps.ferrostar.core.AlternativeRouteProcessor
@@ -36,21 +35,28 @@ object AppModule {
   // You can also modify this file to use your preferred sources for maps and/or routing.
   // See https://stadiamaps.github.io/ferrostar/vendors.html for vendors known to work with
   // Ferrostar.
-  val stadiaApiKey: String by lazy {
-    val appInfo =
-        appContext.packageManager.getApplicationInfo(
-            appContext.packageName, PackageManager.GET_META_DATA)
-    val metaData = appInfo.metaData
-
-    metaData.getString("stadiaApiKey")!!
-  }
+  //
+  // NOTE: Don't set this directly in source code. Add a line to your local.properties file:
+  // stadiaApiKey=YOUR-API-KEY
+  val stadiaApiKey =
+      if (BuildConfig.stadiaApiKey.isBlank() || BuildConfig.stadiaApiKey == "null") {
+        null
+      } else {
+        BuildConfig.stadiaApiKey
+      }
 
   val mapStyleUrl: String by lazy {
-    "https://tiles.stadiamaps.com/styles/outdoors.json?api_key=$stadiaApiKey"
+    if (stadiaApiKey != null)
+        "https://tiles.stadiamaps.com/styles/outdoors.json?api_key=$stadiaApiKey"
+    else "https://demotiles.maplibre.org/style.json"
   }
 
   val valhallaEndpointUrl: URL by lazy {
-    URL("https://api.stadiamaps.com/route/v1?api_key=$stadiaApiKey")
+    if (stadiaApiKey != null) {
+      URL("https://api.stadiamaps.com/route/v1?api_key=$stadiaApiKey")
+    } else {
+      URL("https://valhalla1.openstreeetmap.de/route")
+    }
   }
 
   fun init(context: Context) {
diff --git a/android/demo-app/src/main/java/com/stadiamaps/ferrostar/DemoNavigationScene.kt b/android/demo-app/src/main/java/com/stadiamaps/ferrostar/DemoNavigationScene.kt
index cfa85735..54a80cc6 100644
--- a/android/demo-app/src/main/java/com/stadiamaps/ferrostar/DemoNavigationScene.kt
+++ b/android/demo-app/src/main/java/com/stadiamaps/ferrostar/DemoNavigationScene.kt
@@ -134,33 +134,33 @@ fun DemoNavigationScene(
           InnerGridView(
               modifier = modifier.fillMaxSize().padding(bottom = 16.dp, top = 16.dp),
               topCenter = {
-                AutocompleteSearch(
-                    apiKey = AppModule.stadiaApiKey, userLocation = loc.toAndroidLocation()) {
-                        feature ->
-                      feature.center()?.let { center ->
-                        // Fetch a route in the background
-                        scope.launch(Dispatchers.IO) {
-                          // TODO: Fail gracefully
-                          val routes =
-                              AppModule.ferrostarCore.getRoutes(
-                                  loc,
-                                  listOf(
-                                      Waypoint(
-                                          coordinate =
-                                              GeographicCoordinate(
-                                                  center.latitude, center.longitude),
-                                          kind = WaypointKind.BREAK),
-                                  ))
+                AppModule.stadiaApiKey?.let { apiKey ->
+                  AutocompleteSearch(apiKey = apiKey, userLocation = loc.toAndroidLocation()) {
+                      feature ->
+                    feature.center()?.let { center ->
+                      // Fetch a route in the background
+                      scope.launch(Dispatchers.IO) {
+                        // TODO: Fail gracefully
+                        val routes =
+                            AppModule.ferrostarCore.getRoutes(
+                                loc,
+                                listOf(
+                                    Waypoint(
+                                        coordinate =
+                                            GeographicCoordinate(center.latitude, center.longitude),
+                                        kind = WaypointKind.BREAK),
+                                ))
 
-                          val route = routes.first()
-                          viewModel = AppModule.ferrostarCore.startNavigation(route = route)
+                        val route = routes.first()
+                        viewModel = AppModule.ferrostarCore.startNavigation(route = route)
 
-                          if (locationProvider is SimulatedLocationProvider) {
-                            locationProvider.setSimulatedRoute(route)
-                          }
+                        if (locationProvider is SimulatedLocationProvider) {
+                          locationProvider.setSimulatedRoute(route)
                         }
                       }
                     }
+                  }
+                }
               })
         }
       }) { uiState ->
diff --git a/android/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/android/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index 4aacc790..f2e394ec 100644
--- a/android/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/android/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ junitCompose = "1.7.3"
 espressoCore = "3.6.1"
 okhttp-mock = "2.0.0"
 mavenPublish = "0.29.0"
-secretsGradlePlugin = "2.0.1"
 material = "1.12.0"
 stadiaAutocompleteSearch = "1.0.0"
 
@@ -78,4 +77,3 @@ ktfmt = { id = "com.ncorti.ktfmt.gradle", version.ref = "ktfmt" }
 paparazzi = { id = "app.cash.paparazzi", version.ref = "paparazzi" }
 mavenPublish = { id = "com.vanniktech.maven.publish", version.ref = "mavenPublish" }
 kotlinSerialization = { id = "org.jetbrains.kotlin.plugin.serialization", version.ref = "kotlin" }
-mapsplatform-secrets-plugin = { id = "com.google.android.libraries.mapsplatform.secrets-gradle-plugin", version.ref = "secretsGradlePlugin" }