diff --git a/target/product/updatable_apex.mk b/target/product/updatable_apex.mk
index c8dc8b0027..d606e0037d 100644
--- a/target/product/updatable_apex.mk
+++ b/target/product/updatable_apex.mk
@@ -22,4 +22,9 @@ ifneq ($(OVERRIDE_TARGET_FLATTEN_APEX),true)
   PRODUCT_PACKAGES += com.android.apex.cts.shim.v1_prebuilt
   PRODUCT_VENDOR_PROPERTIES := ro.apex.updatable=true
   TARGET_FLATTEN_APEX := false
+  # Use compressed apexes in pre-installed partitions.
+  # Note: this doesn't mean that all pre-installed apexes will be compressed.
+  #  Whether an apex is compressed or not is controlled at apex Soong module
+  #  via compresible property.
+  PRODUCT_COMPRESSED_APEX := true
 endif