diff --git a/mediapipe/model_maker/python/vision/object_detector/model.py b/mediapipe/model_maker/python/vision/object_detector/model.py
index 70e63d5b5..b1b4951fd 100644
--- a/mediapipe/model_maker/python/vision/object_detector/model.py
+++ b/mediapipe/model_maker/python/vision/object_detector/model.py
@@ -101,14 +101,17 @@ class ObjectDetectorModel(tf.keras.Model):
     )
     return model_config
 
-  def _build_model(self) -> tf.keras.Model:
+  def _build_model(self, omit_l2=False) -> tf.keras.Model:
     """Builds a RetinaNet object detector model."""
     input_specs = tf.keras.layers.InputSpec(
         shape=[None] + self._model_spec.input_image_shape
     )
-    l2_regularizer = tf.keras.regularizers.l2(
-        self._model_options.l2_weight_decay / 2.0
-    )
+    if omit_l2:
+      l2_regularizer = None
+    else:
+      l2_regularizer = tf.keras.regularizers.l2(
+          self._model_options.l2_weight_decay / 2.0
+      )
     model_config = self._get_model_config()
 
     return factory.build_retinanet(input_specs, model_config, l2_regularizer)
@@ -167,7 +170,7 @@ class ObjectDetectorModel(tf.keras.Model):
 
   def convert_to_qat(self) -> None:
     """Converts the model to a QAT RetinaNet model."""
-    model = self._build_model()
+    model = self._build_model(omit_l2=True)
     dummy_input = tf.zeros([1] + self._model_spec.input_image_shape)
     model(dummy_input, training=True)
     model.set_weights(self._model.get_weights())