diff --git a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.3.xml b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.3.xml
index 468735d2ba..0964c9964c 100644
--- a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.3.xml
+++ b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.3.xml
@@ -183,7 +183,10 @@
             <instance>default</instance>
         </interface>
     </hal>
-    <hal format="hidl" optional="false">
+    <!-- Either the AIDL or the HIDL allocator HAL must exist on the device.
+         If the HIDL composer HAL exists, it must be at least version 2.0.
+         See DeviceManifestTest.GrallocHal -->
+    <hal format="hidl" optional="true">
         <name>android.hardware.graphics.allocator</name>
         <version>2.0</version>
         <interface>
diff --git a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.4.xml b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.4.xml
index 96f291ff83..8ef0b3ad27 100644
--- a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.4.xml
+++ b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.4.xml
@@ -187,7 +187,10 @@
             <instance>default</instance>
         </interface>
     </hal>
-    <hal format="hidl" optional="false">
+    <!-- Either the AIDL or the HIDL allocator HAL must exist on the device.
+         If the HIDL composer HAL exists, it must be at least version 2.0.
+         See DeviceManifestTest.GrallocHal -->
+    <hal format="hidl" optional="true">
         <name>android.hardware.graphics.allocator</name>
         <version>2.0</version>
         <version>3.0</version>
diff --git a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.5.xml b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.5.xml
index 3642814f7e..12b85c7724 100644
--- a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.5.xml
+++ b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.5.xml
@@ -208,7 +208,10 @@
             <instance>default</instance>
         </interface>
     </hal>
-    <hal format="hidl" optional="false">
+    <!-- Either the AIDL or the HIDL allocator HAL must exist on the device.
+         If the HIDL composer HAL exists, it must be at least version 2.0.
+         See DeviceManifestTest.GrallocHal -->
+    <hal format="hidl" optional="true">
         <name>android.hardware.graphics.allocator</name>
         <!-- New, non-Go devices should use 4.0, tested in vts_treble_vintf_vendor_test -->
         <version>2.0</version>
diff --git a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.6.xml b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.6.xml
index 9c42cb0647..e19d2dd12e 100644
--- a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.6.xml
+++ b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.6.xml
@@ -238,7 +238,10 @@
             <instance>default</instance>
         </interface>
     </hal>
-    <hal format="hidl" optional="false">
+    <!-- Either the AIDL or the HIDL allocator HAL must exist on the device.
+         If the HIDL composer HAL exists, it must be at least version 2.0.
+         See DeviceManifestTest.GrallocHal -->
+    <hal format="hidl" optional="true">
         <name>android.hardware.graphics.allocator</name>
         <!-- New, non-Go devices should use 4.0, tested in vts_treble_vintf_vendor_test -->
         <version>2.0</version>
diff --git a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.current.xml b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.current.xml
index 84263b6c27..886f7f5b39 100644
--- a/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.current.xml
+++ b/compatibility_matrices/compatibility_matrix.current.xml
@@ -278,9 +278,13 @@
             <instance>default</instance>
         </interface>
     </hal>
+    <!-- Either the AIDL or the HIDL allocator HAL must exist on the device.
+         If the HIDL composer HAL exists, it must be at least version 2.0.
+         See DeviceManifestTest.GrallocHal -->
     <hal format="hidl" optional="true">
         <name>android.hardware.graphics.allocator</name>
-        <!-- New, non-Go devices should use 4.0 or the AIDL hal. -->
+        <!-- New, non-Go devices should use 4.0 or the AIDL hal.
+             See DeviceManifestTest.GrallocVersionCompatibility. -->
         <version>2.0</version>
         <version>3.0</version>
         <version>4.0</version>