diff --git a/core/android_manifest.mk b/core/android_manifest.mk
index 7d573d3..1dca7ab 100644
--- a/core/android_manifest.mk
+++ b/core/android_manifest.mk
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
   $(call intermediates-dir-for,JAVA_LIBRARIES,$(lib),,COMMON)/aar/AndroidManifest.xml)
 
 # With aapt2, we'll link in the built resource from the AAR.
-ifndef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifneq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR += $(foreach lib, $(LOCAL_STATIC_JAVA_AAR_LIBRARIES),\
   $(call intermediates-dir-for,JAVA_LIBRARIES,$(lib),,COMMON)/aar/res)
 endif  # LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
diff --git a/core/definitions.mk b/core/definitions.mk
index 1463bc6..a1a178b 100644
--- a/core/definitions.mk
+++ b/core/definitions.mk
@@ -2147,6 +2147,17 @@
 $(EXTRACT_JAR_PACKAGES) -i $(PRIVATE_SRCJAR) -o $(PRIVATE_AAPT_EXTRA_PACKAGES) --prefix '--extra-packages '
 endef
 
+define _create-default-manifest-file
+$(1):
+	rm -f $1
+	echo '<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" package="missing.manifest"></manifest>' > $1
+endef
+
+define create-default-manifest-file
+  $(eval $(call _create-default-manifest-file,$(1)))
+endef
+
+
 ###########################################################
 xlint_unchecked := -Xlint:unchecked
 
diff --git a/core/force_aapt2.mk b/core/force_aapt2.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..655ccf5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/force_aapt2.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2018 The Android Open Source Project
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+# Including this makefile will force AAPT2 on if FORCE_AAPT2==true,
+# rewriting some properties to convert standard AAPT usage to AAPT2.
+
+ifeq ($(FORCE_AAPT2),true)
+  ifneq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
+    # Force AAPT2 on
+    LOCAL_USE_AAPT2 := true
+    # Move LOCAL_STATIC_JAVA_AAR_LIBRARIES to LOCAL_STATIC_ANDROID_LIBRARIES
+    LOCAL_STATIC_ANDROID_LIBRARIES := $(strip $(LOCAL_STATIC_ANDROID_LIBRARIES) $(LOCAL_STATIC_JAVA_AAR_LIBRARIES))
+    LOCAL_STATIC_JAVA_AAR_LIBRARIES :=
+    # Filter out support library resources
+    LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR := $(filter-out \
+      prebuilts/sdk/current/% \
+      frameworks/support/%,\
+        $(LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR))
+    # Filter out unnecessary aapt flags
+    LOCAL_AAPT_FLAGS := $(subst --extra-packages=,--extra-packages$(space), \
+      $(filter-out \
+        --extra-packages=android.support.% \
+        --extra-packages=androidx.% \
+        --auto-add-overlay,\
+          $(subst --extra-packages$(space),--extra-packages=,$(LOCAL_AAPT_FLAGS))))
+
+    # AAPT2 is pickier about missing resources.  Support library may have references to resources
+    # added in current, so always treat LOCAL_SDK_VERSION as LOCAL_SDK_RES_VERSION := current.
+    ifdef LOCAL_SDK_VERSION
+      LOCAL_SDK_RES_VERSION := current
+    endif
+
+    ifeq (,$(strip $(LOCAL_MANIFEST_FILE)$(LOCAL_FULL_MANIFEST_FILE)))
+      ifeq (,$(wildcard $(LOCAL_PATH)/AndroidManifest.xml))
+        # work around missing manifests by creating a default one
+        $(call pretty-warning, Missing manifest file)
+        LOCAL_FULL_MANIFEST_FILE := $(call local-intermediates-dir,COMMON)/DefaultManifest.xml
+        $(call create-default-manifest-file,$(LOCAL_FULL_MANIFEST_FILE))
+      endif
+    endif
+  endif
+endif
+
+ifneq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
+  ifneq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),false)
+    ifneq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),)
+      $(call pretty-error,Invalid value for LOCAL_USE_AAPT2: "$(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2)")
+    endif
+  endif
+endif
diff --git a/core/java.mk b/core/java.mk
index 297f0b7..8e5fd1d 100644
--- a/core/java.mk
+++ b/core/java.mk
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@
 common_proguard_flags += -dontshrink # don't shrink tests by default
 endif # test package
 ifneq ($(LOCAL_PROGUARD_ENABLED),custom)
-  ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+  ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
     common_proguard_flag_files += $(foreach l,$(LOCAL_STATIC_ANDROID_LIBRARIES),\
         $(call intermediates-dir-for,JAVA_LIBRARIES,$(l),,COMMON)/export_proguard_flags)
   endif
diff --git a/core/java_common.mk b/core/java_common.mk
index 2695aff..d8f679a 100644
--- a/core/java_common.mk
+++ b/core/java_common.mk
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@
 ifdef LOCAL_AAPT2_ONLY
 my_link_type += aapt2_only
 endif
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 my_allowed_types += aapt2_only
 endif
 
diff --git a/core/package_internal.mk b/core/package_internal.mk
index f8e610b..18c8f23 100644
--- a/core/package_internal.mk
+++ b/core/package_internal.mk
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@
   LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR := $(foreach d,$(LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR),$(call clean-path,$(d)))
 endif
 
+include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/force_aapt2.mk
+
 package_resource_overlays := $(strip \
     $(wildcard $(foreach dir, $(PRODUCT_PACKAGE_OVERLAYS), \
       $(addprefix $(dir)/, $(LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR)))) \
@@ -153,7 +155,7 @@
 endif
 
 my_res_package :=
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 # In aapt2 the last takes precedence.
 my_resource_dirs := $(call reverse-list,$(LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR))
 my_res_dir :=
@@ -357,7 +359,7 @@
 ###############################
 ## AAPT/AAPT2
 
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
   my_compiled_res_base_dir := $(intermediates.COMMON)/flat-res
   ifneq (,$(renderscript_target_api))
     ifneq ($(call math_gt_or_eq,$(renderscript_target_api),21),true)
@@ -509,7 +511,7 @@
 $(LOCAL_INTERMEDIATE_TARGETS): \
     PRIVATE_AAPT_INCLUDES := $(all_library_res_package_exports)
 
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 $(my_res_package) : $(all_library_res_package_export_deps)
 endif
 
@@ -593,7 +595,7 @@
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): PRIVATE_FULL_CLASSES_JAR := $(full_classes_jar)
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE) : $(jni_shared_libraries)
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE) : $(JAR_ARGS)
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): PRIVATE_RES_PACKAGE := $(my_res_package)
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE) : $(my_res_package) $(AAPT2) | $(ACP)
 else
@@ -604,7 +606,7 @@
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE) : $(MINIGZIP)
 endif
 	@echo "target Package: $(PRIVATE_MODULE) ($@)"
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 	$(call copy-file-to-new-target)
 else  # ! LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
 	$(if $(PRIVATE_SOURCE_ARCHIVE),\
@@ -620,7 +622,7 @@
 	$(if $(PRIVATE_EXTRA_JAR_ARGS),$(call add-java-resources-to,$@))
 else  # full_classes_jar
 	$(add-dex-to-package)
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 	$(call add-jar-resources-to-package,$@,$(PRIVATE_FULL_CLASSES_JAR),$(PRIVATE_RESOURCE_INTERMEDIATES_DIR))
 endif
 endif  # full_classes_jar
diff --git a/core/prebuilt_internal.mk b/core/prebuilt_internal.mk
index 8aa5b96..6a9916a 100644
--- a/core/prebuilt_internal.mk
+++ b/core/prebuilt_internal.mk
@@ -607,11 +607,13 @@
 $(common_javalib_jar) : $(common_classes_jar)
 	$(transform-prebuilt-to-target)
 
+include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/force_aapt2.mk
+
 ifdef LOCAL_AAPT2_ONLY
 LOCAL_USE_AAPT2 := true
 endif
 
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 ifneq ($(my_src_aar),)
 
 $(intermediates.COMMON)/export_proguard_flags : $(my_src_proguard_options)
diff --git a/core/static_java_library.mk b/core/static_java_library.mk
index 8ef28b8..332314f 100644
--- a/core/static_java_library.mk
+++ b/core/static_java_library.mk
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 
 my_res_package :=
 
+include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/force_aapt2.mk
+
 ifdef LOCAL_AAPT2_ONLY
 LOCAL_USE_AAPT2 := true
 endif
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@
 need_compile_res := true
 LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR := $(foreach d,$(LOCAL_RESOURCE_DIR),$(call clean-path,$(d)))
 endif
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 ifneq ($(LOCAL_STATIC_ANDROID_LIBRARIES),)
 need_compile_res := true
 endif
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@
 R_file_stamp := $(intermediates.COMMON)/src/R.stamp
 LOCAL_INTERMEDIATE_TARGETS += $(R_file_stamp)
 
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 # For library we treat all the resource equal with no overlay.
 my_res_resources := $(all_resources)
 my_overlay_resources :=
@@ -117,7 +119,7 @@
 endif
 endif
 
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 import_proguard_flag_files := $(strip $(foreach l,$(LOCAL_STATIC_ANDROID_LIBRARIES),\
     $(call intermediates-dir-for,JAVA_LIBRARIES,$(l),,COMMON)/export_proguard_flags))
 $(intermediates.COMMON)/export_proguard_flags: $(import_proguard_flag_files) $(addprefix $(LOCAL_PATH)/,$(LOCAL_EXPORT_PROGUARD_FLAG_FILES))
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@
 
 # add --non-constant-id to prevent inlining constants.
 # AAR needs text symbol file R.txt.
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
 $(LOCAL_INTERMEDIATE_TARGETS): PRIVATE_AAPT_FLAGS := $(LOCAL_AAPT_FLAGS) --static-lib --output-text-symbols $(intermediates.COMMON)/R.txt
 ifndef LOCAL_AAPT_NAMESPACES
   $(LOCAL_INTERMEDIATE_TARGETS): PRIVATE_AAPT_FLAGS += --no-static-lib-packages
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@
 $(LOCAL_INTERMEDIATE_TARGETS): PRIVATE_MANIFEST_PACKAGE_NAME :=
 $(LOCAL_INTERMEDIATE_TARGETS): PRIVATE_MANIFEST_INSTRUMENTATION_FOR :=
 
-ifdef LOCAL_USE_AAPT2
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_USE_AAPT2),true)
   # One more level with name res so we can zip up the flat resources that can be linked by apps.
   my_compiled_res_base_dir := $(intermediates.COMMON)/flat-res/res
   ifneq (,$(renderscript_target_api))