  The $R_{K^{(*)}}$ anomaly can be explained by tree level exchange of
leptoquarks. We study the consequences of subjecting these models to the
principle of minimal flavor violation (MFV). We consider MFV in the linear
regime, and take the charged lepton Yukawa matrix to be the only spurion that
violates lepton flavor universality. We find that a combination of constraints
from a variety of processes -- $b\to s\mu\mu$, $b\to s\tau\tau$, $b\to
s\nu\nu$, $b\bar b\to\tau\tau$ and $b\to c\tau\nu$ -- excludes MFV in these
models.
