diff --git a/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py b/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
index 18ad8ce..ee3c463 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 
 
 def SignApexPayload(avbtool, payload_file, payload_key_path, payload_key_name,
-                    algorithm, salt, signing_args=None):
+                    algorithm, salt, no_hashtree, signing_args=None):
   """Signs a given payload_file with the payload key."""
   # Add the new footer. Old footer, if any, will be replaced by avbtool.
   cmd = [avbtool, 'add_hashtree_footer',
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@
          '--prop', 'apex.key:{}'.format(payload_key_name),
          '--image', payload_file,
          '--salt', salt]
+  if no_hashtree:
+    cmd.append('--no_hashtree')
   if signing_args:
     cmd.extend(shlex.split(signing_args))
 
@@ -64,13 +66,15 @@
 
   # Verify the signed payload image with specified public key.
   logger.info('Verifying %s', payload_file)
-  VerifyApexPayload(avbtool, payload_file, payload_key_path)
+  VerifyApexPayload(avbtool, payload_file, payload_key_path, no_hashtree)
 
 
-def VerifyApexPayload(avbtool, payload_file, payload_key):
+def VerifyApexPayload(avbtool, payload_file, payload_key, no_hashtree=False):
   """Verifies the APEX payload signature with the given key."""
   cmd = [avbtool, 'verify_image', '--image', payload_file,
          '--key', payload_key]
+  if no_hashtree:
+    cmd.append('--accept_zeroed_hashtree')
   try:
     common.RunAndCheckOutput(cmd)
   except common.ExternalError as e:
@@ -91,7 +95,7 @@
 
   Returns:
     A dict that contains payload property-value pairs. The dict should at least
-    contain Algorithm, Salt and apex.key.
+    contain Algorithm, Salt, Tree Size and apex.key.
   """
   if not os.path.exists(payload_path):
     raise ApexInfoError('Failed to find image: {}'.format(payload_path))
@@ -104,11 +108,11 @@
         'Failed to get APEX payload info for {}:\n{}'.format(
             payload_path, e))
 
-  # Extract the Algorithm / Salt / Prop info from payload (i.e. an image signed
-  # with avbtool). For example,
+  # Extract the Algorithm / Salt / Prop info / Tree size from payload (i.e. an
+  # image signed with avbtool). For example,
   # Algorithm:                SHA256_RSA4096
   PAYLOAD_INFO_PATTERN = (
-      r'^\s*(?P<key>Algorithm|Salt|Prop)\:\s*(?P<value>.*?)$')
+      r'^\s*(?P<key>Algorithm|Salt|Prop|Tree Size)\:\s*(?P<value>.*?)$')
   payload_info_matcher = re.compile(PAYLOAD_INFO_PATTERN)
 
   payload_info = {}
@@ -151,7 +155,7 @@
 
 
 def SignApex(avbtool, apex_data, payload_key, container_key, container_pw,
-             codename_to_api_level_map, signing_args=None):
+             codename_to_api_level_map, no_hashtree, signing_args=None):
   """Signs the current APEX with the given payload/container keys.
 
   Args:
@@ -160,6 +164,7 @@
     container_key: The path to container signing key (w/o extension).
     container_pw: The matching password of the container_key, or None.
     codename_to_api_level_map: A dict that maps from codename to API level.
+    no_hashtree: Don't include hashtree in the signed APEX.
     signing_args: Additional args to be passed to the payload signer.
 
   Returns:
@@ -187,6 +192,7 @@
       payload_info['apex.key'],
       payload_info['Algorithm'],
       payload_info['Salt'],
+      no_hashtree,
       signing_args)
 
   # 1b. Update the embedded payload public key.
diff --git a/tools/releasetools/sign_apex.py b/tools/releasetools/sign_apex.py
index 2516e15..f2daa46 100755
--- a/tools/releasetools/sign_apex.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/sign_apex.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
       container_key=container_key,
       container_pw=None,
       codename_to_api_level_map=None,
+      no_hashtree=False,
       signing_args=signing_args)
 
 
@@ -103,7 +104,8 @@
       args[0],
       options['payload_key'],
       options['container_key'],
-      options.get('payload_extra_args'))
+      no_hashtree=False,
+      signing_args=options.get('payload_extra_args'))
   shutil.copyfile(signed_apex, args[1])
   logger.info("done.")
 
diff --git a/tools/releasetools/sign_target_files_apks.py b/tools/releasetools/sign_target_files_apks.py
index 1f41431..710147b 100755
--- a/tools/releasetools/sign_target_files_apks.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/sign_target_files_apks.py
@@ -479,7 +479,8 @@
             container_key,
             key_passwords[container_key],
             codename_to_api_level_map,
-            OPTIONS.avb_extra_args.get('apex'))
+            no_hashtree=True,
+            signing_args=OPTIONS.avb_extra_args.get('apex'))
         common.ZipWrite(output_tf_zip, signed_apex, filename)
 
       else:
diff --git a/tools/releasetools/test_apex_utils.py b/tools/releasetools/test_apex_utils.py
index e9c26f0..5d4cc77 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/test_apex_utils.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/test_apex_utils.py
@@ -44,19 +44,42 @@
     payload_file = self._GetTestPayload()
     apex_utils.SignApexPayload(
         'avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key, 'testkey', 'SHA256_RSA2048',
-        self.SALT)
+        self.SALT, no_hashtree=True)
     payload_info = apex_utils.ParseApexPayloadInfo('avbtool', payload_file)
     self.assertEqual('SHA256_RSA2048', payload_info['Algorithm'])
     self.assertEqual(self.SALT, payload_info['Salt'])
     self.assertEqual('testkey', payload_info['apex.key'])
+    self.assertEqual('0 bytes', payload_info['Tree Size'])
 
   @test_utils.SkipIfExternalToolsUnavailable()
   def test_SignApexPayload(self):
     payload_file = self._GetTestPayload()
     apex_utils.SignApexPayload(
         'avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key, 'testkey', 'SHA256_RSA2048',
-        self.SALT)
+        self.SALT, no_hashtree=True)
+    apex_utils.VerifyApexPayload(
+        'avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key, True)
+
+  @test_utils.SkipIfExternalToolsUnavailable()
+  def test_SignApexPayload_withHashtree(self):
+    payload_file = self._GetTestPayload()
+    apex_utils.SignApexPayload(
+        'avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key, 'testkey', 'SHA256_RSA2048',
+        self.SALT, no_hashtree=False)
     apex_utils.VerifyApexPayload('avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key)
+    payload_info = apex_utils.ParseApexPayloadInfo('avbtool', payload_file)
+    self.assertEqual('4096 bytes', payload_info['Tree Size'])
+
+  @test_utils.SkipIfExternalToolsUnavailable()
+  def test_SignApexPayload_noHashtree(self):
+    payload_file = self._GetTestPayload()
+    apex_utils.SignApexPayload(
+        'avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key, 'testkey', 'SHA256_RSA2048',
+        self.SALT, no_hashtree=True)
+    apex_utils.VerifyApexPayload('avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key,
+                                 no_hashtree=True)
+    payload_info = apex_utils.ParseApexPayloadInfo('avbtool', payload_file)
+    self.assertEqual('0 bytes', payload_info['Tree Size'])
 
   @test_utils.SkipIfExternalToolsUnavailable()
   def test_SignApexPayload_withSignerHelper(self):
@@ -70,8 +93,10 @@
         payload_file,
         self.payload_key,
         'testkey', 'SHA256_RSA2048', self.SALT,
+        True,
         payload_signer_args)
-    apex_utils.VerifyApexPayload('avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key)
+    apex_utils.VerifyApexPayload(
+        'avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key, True)
 
   @test_utils.SkipIfExternalToolsUnavailable()
   def test_SignApexPayload_invalidKey(self):
@@ -83,18 +108,21 @@
         os.path.join(self.testdata_dir, 'testkey.x509.pem'),
         'testkey',
         'SHA256_RSA2048',
-        self.SALT)
+        self.SALT,
+        no_hashtree=True)
 
   @test_utils.SkipIfExternalToolsUnavailable()
   def test_VerifyApexPayload_wrongKey(self):
     payload_file = self._GetTestPayload()
     apex_utils.SignApexPayload(
         'avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key, 'testkey', 'SHA256_RSA2048',
-        self.SALT)
-    apex_utils.VerifyApexPayload('avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key)
+        self.SALT, True)
+    apex_utils.VerifyApexPayload(
+        'avbtool', payload_file, self.payload_key, True)
     self.assertRaises(
         apex_utils.ApexSigningError,
         apex_utils.VerifyApexPayload,
         'avbtool',
         payload_file,
-        os.path.join(self.testdata_dir, 'testkey_with_passwd.key'))
+        os.path.join(self.testdata_dir, 'testkey_with_passwd.key'),
+        no_hashtree=True)