diff --git a/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index aa066ffaf..8956fd8a0 100644
--- a/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ tuulbox = "8.1.0"
 voyager = "2.2.21-1.10.3"
 
 [libraries]
-androidx-core = { module = "androidx.core:core-ktx", version = "1.19.0" }
+androidx-core = { module = "androidx.core:core-ktx", version = "1.16.0" }
 androidx-lifecycle = { module = "androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-common", version = "2.11.0" }
 androidx-startup = { module = "androidx.startup:startup-runtime", version = "1.2.0" }
 atomicfu = { module = "org.jetbrains.kotlinx:atomicfu", version = "0.33.0" }
diff --git a/renovate.json5 b/renovate.json5
index 7c7abd14a..1ee0e0aad 100644
--- a/renovate.json5
+++ b/renovate.json5
@@ -23,4 +23,16 @@
       extractVersionTemplate: '^(?<version>[^+]+)',
     },
   ],
+  packageRules: [
+    // Pin `androidx.core:core[-ktx]` to 1.16.0. Newer releases (1.17.0+) bump the required Android
+    // Gradle plugin version, which would force consumers onto AGP 9.
+    // See https://github.com/JuulLabs/kable/issues/1206.
+    {
+      matchPackageNames: [
+        'androidx.core:core',
+        'androidx.core:core-ktx',
+      ],
+      allowedVersions: '1.16.0',
+    },
+  ],
 }