diff --git a/include/androidfw/AssetManager.h b/include/androidfw/AssetManager.h
index 99b3195..0cfd2b1 100644
--- a/include/androidfw/AssetManager.h
+++ b/include/androidfw/AssetManager.h
@@ -236,9 +236,11 @@
 private:
     struct asset_path
     {
+        asset_path() : path(""), type(kFileTypeRegular), idmap(""), isSystemOverlay(false) {}
         String8 path;
         FileType type;
         String8 idmap;
+        bool isSystemOverlay;
     };
 
     Asset* openInPathLocked(const char* fileName, AccessMode mode,
diff --git a/libs/androidfw/AssetManager.cpp b/libs/androidfw/AssetManager.cpp
index a1f78589..542cd93 100644
--- a/libs/androidfw/AssetManager.cpp
+++ b/libs/androidfw/AssetManager.cpp
@@ -605,6 +605,11 @@
 }
 
 bool AssetManager::appendPathToResTable(const asset_path& ap) const {
+    // skip those ap's that correspond to system overlays
+    if (ap.isSystemOverlay) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
     Asset* ass = NULL;
     ResTable* sharedRes = NULL;
     bool shared = true;
@@ -790,6 +795,7 @@
         oap.path = String8(buf, space - buf);
         oap.type = kFileTypeRegular;
         oap.idmap = String8(space + 1, newline - space - 1);
+        oap.isSystemOverlay = true;
 
         Asset* oass = const_cast<AssetManager*>(this)->
             openNonAssetInPathLocked("resources.arsc",