Android layout inspector not working for emulator API <= 17

I am using android studio, I run the application, in the android monitor section, I click the "layout installer" button, I get this message

Capture Hierarchy Hierarchy . Unable to get a list of windows used by "my application name".

I have already tried with android emulator api level 16, 17, I am getting above. For emulators api> = 18 everything works as expected.

Something is wrong with my setup because I don't find anything documenting the specific behavior I get.

thank