diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index ce8cd3d18d33..c8b2a9ebbbbc 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -418,23 +418,33 @@ idea {
     }
 }
 
-subprojects {
-    apply plugin: "com.diffplug.spotless"
+subprojects { project ->
+    // Perform spotless lint in GeckoView projects only.
+    def projectName = project.getName()
+    if (projectName.startsWith('geckoview')
+            || projectName == 'annotations'
+            || projectName == 'exoplayer2'
+            || projectName == 'messaging_example'
+            || projectName == 'port_messaging_example'
+            || projectName == 'test_runner'
+    ) {
+        apply plugin: "com.diffplug.spotless"
 
-    spotless {
-        java {
-            target project.fileTree(project.projectDir) {
-                include '**/*.java'
-                exclude '**/thirdparty/**'
+        spotless {
+            java {
+                target project.fileTree(project.projectDir) {
+                    include '**/*.java'
+                    exclude '**/thirdparty/**'
+                }
+                googleJavaFormat('1.17.0')
             }
-            googleJavaFormat('1.17.0')
-        }
-        kotlin {
-            target project.fileTree(project.projectDir) {
-                include '**/*.kt'
-                exclude '**/thirdparty/**'
+            kotlin {
+                target project.fileTree(project.projectDir) {
+                    include '**/*.kt'
+                    exclude '**/thirdparty/**'
+                }
+                ktlint('0.49.1')
             }
-            ktlint('0.49.1')
         }
     }