diff --git a/src/installer/managed/Microsoft.NET.HostModel/Microsoft.NET.HostModel.csproj b/src/installer/managed/Microsoft.NET.HostModel/Microsoft.NET.HostModel.csproj
index 9f00245596360e..679289bca37a4d 100644
--- a/src/installer/managed/Microsoft.NET.HostModel/Microsoft.NET.HostModel.csproj
+++ b/src/installer/managed/Microsoft.NET.HostModel/Microsoft.NET.HostModel.csproj
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="System.Reflection.Metadata" Version="$(SystemReflectionMetadataVersion)" />
+    <!-- we need to keep the version of System.Reflection.Metadata in sync with dotnet/msbuild and dotnet/sdk -->
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Reflection.Metadata" Version="6.0.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="System.Text.Json" Version="$(SystemTextJsonVersion)" />
   </ItemGroup>