diff --git a/core/Makefile b/core/Makefile
index f369c5e704..bfdd8d7396 100644
--- a/core/Makefile
+++ b/core/Makefile
@@ -1601,6 +1601,18 @@ endif
 
 endif # PRODUCT_USE_DYNAMIC_PARTITIONS
 
+# $(1) the partition variable component (eg SYSTEM)
+# $(2) the partition prefix in properties (eg system)
+# $(3) the image prop file
+# $(4) optional "other" size
+define add-sparse-flags-to-image-props
+$(eval _size := $(BOARD_$(1)IMAGE_PARTITION_SIZE))
+$(eval _reserved := $(BOARD_$(1)IMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE))
+$(eval _headroom := $(PRODUCT_$(1)_HEADROOM))
+$(if $(or $(_size), $(_reserved), $(_headroom), $(4)),,
+    $(hide) echo "$(2)_disable_sparse=true" >> $(3))
+endef
+
 # $(1): the path of the output dictionary file
 # $(2): a subset of "system vendor cache userdata product system_ext oem odm vendor_dlkm odm_dlkm"
 # $(3): additional "key=value" pairs to append to the dictionary file.
@@ -1621,11 +1633,14 @@ $(if $(filter $(2),system),\
     $(if $(PRODUCT_SYSTEM_BASE_FS_PATH),$(hide) echo "system_base_fs_file=$(PRODUCT_SYSTEM_BASE_FS_PATH)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(PRODUCT_SYSTEM_HEADROOM),$(hide) echo "system_headroom=$(PRODUCT_SYSTEM_HEADROOM)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_SYSTEMIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE),$(hide) echo "system_reserved_size=$(BOARD_SYSTEMIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE)" >> $(1))
+    $(call add-sparse-flags-to-image-props,SYSTEM,system,$(1))
     $(hide) echo "system_selinux_fc=$(SELINUX_FC)" >> $(1)
     $(hide) echo "building_system_image=$(BUILDING_SYSTEM_IMAGE)" >> $(1)
 )
 $(if $(filter $(2),system_other),\
     $(hide) echo "building_system_other_image=$(BUILDING_SYSTEM_OTHER_IMAGE)" >> $(1)
+    $(if $(INTERNAL_SYSTEM_OTHER_PARTITION_SIZE),,
+        $(hide) echo "system_other_disable_sparse=true" >> $(1))
 )
 $(if $(filter $(2),userdata),\
     $(if $(BOARD_USERDATAIMAGE_FILE_SYSTEM_TYPE),$(hide) echo "userdata_fs_type=$(BOARD_USERDATAIMAGE_FILE_SYSTEM_TYPE)" >> $(1))
@@ -1656,6 +1671,7 @@ $(if $(filter $(2),vendor),\
     $(if $(BOARD_VENDORIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN),$(hide) echo "vendor_squashfs_disable_4k_align=$(BOARD_VENDORIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(PRODUCT_VENDOR_BASE_FS_PATH),$(hide) echo "vendor_base_fs_file=$(PRODUCT_VENDOR_BASE_FS_PATH)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_VENDORIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE),$(hide) echo "vendor_reserved_size=$(BOARD_VENDORIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE)" >> $(1))
+    $(call add-sparse-flags-to-image-props,VENDOR,vendor,$(1))
     $(hide) echo "vendor_selinux_fc=$(SELINUX_FC)" >> $(1)
     $(hide) echo "building_vendor_image=$(BUILDING_VENDOR_IMAGE)" >> $(1)
 )
@@ -1673,6 +1689,7 @@ $(if $(filter $(2),product),\
     $(if $(BOARD_PRODUCTIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN),$(hide) echo "product_squashfs_disable_4k_align=$(BOARD_PRODUCTIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(PRODUCT_PRODUCT_BASE_FS_PATH),$(hide) echo "product_base_fs_file=$(PRODUCT_PRODUCT_BASE_FS_PATH)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_PRODUCTIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE),$(hide) echo "product_reserved_size=$(BOARD_PRODUCTIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE)" >> $(1))
+    $(call add-sparse-flags-to-image-props,PRODUCT,product,$(1))
     $(hide) echo "product_selinux_fc=$(SELINUX_FC)" >> $(1)
     $(hide) echo "building_product_image=$(BUILDING_PRODUCT_IMAGE)" >> $(1)
 )
@@ -1689,6 +1706,7 @@ $(if $(filter $(2),system_ext),\
     $(if $(BOARD_SYSTEM_EXTIMAGE_SQUASHFS_BLOCK_SIZE),$(hide) echo "system_ext_squashfs_block_size=$(BOARD_SYSTEM_EXTIMAGE_SQUASHFS_BLOCK_SIZE)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_SYSTEM_EXTIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN),$(hide) echo "system_ext_squashfs_disable_4k_align=$(BOARD_SYSTEM_EXTIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_SYSTEM_EXTIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE),$(hide) echo "system_ext_reserved_size=$(BOARD_SYSTEM_EXTIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE)" >> $(1))
+    $(call add-sparse-flags-to-image-props,SYSTEM_EXT,system_ext,$(1))
     $(hide) echo "system_ext_selinux_fc=$(SELINUX_FC)" >> $(1)
     $(hide) echo "building_system_ext_image=$(BUILDING_SYSTEM_EXT_IMAGE)" >> $(1)
 )
@@ -1704,6 +1722,7 @@ $(if $(filter $(2),odm),\
     $(if $(BOARD_ODMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN),$(hide) echo "odm_squashfs_disable_4k_align=$(BOARD_ODMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(PRODUCT_ODM_BASE_FS_PATH),$(hide) echo "odm_base_fs_file=$(PRODUCT_ODM_BASE_FS_PATH)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_ODMIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE),$(hide) echo "odm_reserved_size=$(BOARD_ODMIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE)" >> $(1))
+    $(call add-sparse-flags-to-image-props,ODM,odm,$(1))
     $(hide) echo "odm_selinux_fc=$(SELINUX_FC)" >> $(1)
     $(hide) echo "building_odm_image=$(BUILDING_ODM_IMAGE)" >> $(1)
 )
@@ -1720,6 +1739,7 @@ $(if $(filter $(2),vendor_dlkm),\
     $(if $(BOARD_VENDOR_DLKMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_BLOCK_SIZE),$(hide) echo "vendor_dlkm_squashfs_block_size=$(BOARD_VENDOR_DLKMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_BLOCK_SIZE)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_VENDOR_DLKMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN),$(hide) echo "vendor_dlkm_squashfs_disable_4k_align=$(BOARD_VENDOR_DLKMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_VENDOR_DLKMIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE),$(hide) echo "vendor_dlkm_reserved_size=$(BOARD_VENDOR_DLKMIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE)" >> $(1))
+    $(call add-sparse-flags-to-image-props,VENDOR_DLKM,vendor_dlkm,$(1))
     $(hide) echo "vendor_dlkm_selinux_fc=$(SELINUX_FC)" >> $(1)
     $(hide) echo "building_vendor_dlkm_image=$(BUILDING_VENDOR_DLKM_IMAGE)" >> $(1)
 )
@@ -1734,6 +1754,7 @@ $(if $(filter $(2),odm_dlkm),\
     $(if $(BOARD_ODM_DLKMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_BLOCK_SIZE),$(hide) echo "odm_dlkm_squashfs_block_size=$(BOARD_ODM_DLKMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_BLOCK_SIZE)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_ODM_DLKMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN),$(hide) echo "odm_dlkm_squashfs_disable_4k_align=$(BOARD_ODM_DLKMIMAGE_SQUASHFS_DISABLE_4K_ALIGN)" >> $(1))
     $(if $(BOARD_ODM_DLKMIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE),$(hide) echo "odm_dlkm_reserved_size=$(BOARD_ODM_DLKMIMAGE_PARTITION_RESERVED_SIZE)" >> $(1))
+    $(call add-sparse-flags-to-image-props,ODM_DLKM,odm_dlkm,$(1))
     $(hide) echo "odm_dlkm_selinux_fc=$(SELINUX_FC)" >> $(1)
     $(hide) echo "building_odm_dlkm_image=$(BUILDING_ODM_DLKM_IMAGE)" >> $(1)
 )
diff --git a/tools/releasetools/build_image.py b/tools/releasetools/build_image.py
index f2ba3219f4..189da37ef5 100755
--- a/tools/releasetools/build_image.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/build_image.py
@@ -256,9 +256,11 @@ def BuildImageMkfs(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out, fs_config):
   needs_casefold = prop_dict.get("needs_casefold", 0)
   needs_compress = prop_dict.get("needs_compress", 0)
 
+  disable_sparse = "disable_sparse" in prop_dict
+
   if fs_type.startswith("ext"):
     build_command = [prop_dict["ext_mkuserimg"]]
-    if "extfs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict:
+    if "extfs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict and not disable_sparse:
       build_command.append(prop_dict["extfs_sparse_flag"])
       run_e2fsck = True
     build_command.extend([in_dir, out_file, fs_type,
@@ -303,7 +305,7 @@ def BuildImageMkfs(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out, fs_config):
   elif fs_type.startswith("erofs"):
     build_command = ["mkerofsimage.sh"]
     build_command.extend([in_dir, out_file])
-    if "erofs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict:
+    if "erofs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict and not disable_sparse:
       build_command.extend([prop_dict["erofs_sparse_flag"]])
     build_command.extend(["-m", prop_dict["mount_point"]])
     if target_out:
@@ -319,7 +321,7 @@ def BuildImageMkfs(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out, fs_config):
   elif fs_type.startswith("squash"):
     build_command = ["mksquashfsimage.sh"]
     build_command.extend([in_dir, out_file])
-    if "squashfs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict:
+    if "squashfs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict and not disable_sparse:
       build_command.extend([prop_dict["squashfs_sparse_flag"]])
     build_command.extend(["-m", prop_dict["mount_point"]])
     if target_out:
@@ -341,7 +343,7 @@ def BuildImageMkfs(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out, fs_config):
   elif fs_type.startswith("f2fs"):
     build_command = ["mkf2fsuserimg.sh"]
     build_command.extend([out_file, prop_dict["image_size"]])
-    if "f2fs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict:
+    if "f2fs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict and not disable_sparse:
       build_command.extend([prop_dict["f2fs_sparse_flag"]])
     if fs_config:
       build_command.extend(["-C", fs_config])
@@ -448,6 +450,8 @@ def BuildImage(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out=None):
   # or None if not applicable.
   verity_image_builder = verity_utils.CreateVerityImageBuilder(prop_dict)
 
+  disable_sparse = "disable_sparse" in prop_dict
+
   if (prop_dict.get("use_dynamic_partition_size") == "true" and
       "partition_size" not in prop_dict):
     # If partition_size is not defined, use output of `du' + reserved_size.
@@ -481,7 +485,7 @@ def BuildImage(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out=None):
           size // BYTES_IN_MB, prop_dict["extfs_inode_count"])
       BuildImageMkfs(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out, fs_config)
       sparse_image = False
-      if "extfs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict:
+      if "extfs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict and not disable_sparse:
         sparse_image = True
       fs_dict = GetFilesystemCharacteristics(fs_type, out_file, sparse_image)
       os.remove(out_file)
@@ -525,7 +529,7 @@ def BuildImage(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out=None):
       prop_dict["image_size"] = str(size)
       BuildImageMkfs(in_dir, prop_dict, out_file, target_out, fs_config)
       sparse_image = False
-      if "f2fs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict:
+      if "f2fs_sparse_flag" in prop_dict and not disable_sparse:
         sparse_image = True
       fs_dict = GetFilesystemCharacteristics(fs_type, out_file, sparse_image)
       os.remove(out_file)
@@ -642,6 +646,7 @@ def ImagePropFromGlobalDict(glob_dict, mount_point):
       d["extfs_rsv_pct"] = "0"
     copy_prop("system_reserved_size", "partition_reserved_size")
     copy_prop("system_selinux_fc", "selinux_fc")
+    copy_prop("system_disable_sparse", "disable_sparse")
   elif mount_point == "system_other":
     # We inherit the selinux policies of /system since we contain some of its
     # files.
@@ -668,6 +673,7 @@ def ImagePropFromGlobalDict(glob_dict, mount_point):
       d["extfs_rsv_pct"] = "0"
     copy_prop("system_reserved_size", "partition_reserved_size")
     copy_prop("system_selinux_fc", "selinux_fc")
+    copy_prop("system_disable_sparse", "disable_sparse")
   elif mount_point == "data":
     # Copy the generic fs type first, override with specific one if available.
     copy_prop("fs_type", "fs_type")
@@ -708,6 +714,7 @@ def ImagePropFromGlobalDict(glob_dict, mount_point):
       d["extfs_rsv_pct"] = "0"
     copy_prop("vendor_reserved_size", "partition_reserved_size")
     copy_prop("vendor_selinux_fc", "selinux_fc")
+    copy_prop("vendor_disable_sparse", "disable_sparse")
   elif mount_point == "product":
     copy_prop("avb_product_hashtree_enable", "avb_hashtree_enable")
     copy_prop("avb_product_add_hashtree_footer_args",
@@ -733,6 +740,7 @@ def ImagePropFromGlobalDict(glob_dict, mount_point):
       d["extfs_rsv_pct"] = "0"
     copy_prop("product_reserved_size", "partition_reserved_size")
     copy_prop("product_selinux_fc", "selinux_fc")
+    copy_prop("product_disable_sparse", "disable_sparse")
   elif mount_point == "system_ext":
     copy_prop("avb_system_ext_hashtree_enable", "avb_hashtree_enable")
     copy_prop("avb_system_ext_add_hashtree_footer_args",
@@ -760,6 +768,7 @@ def ImagePropFromGlobalDict(glob_dict, mount_point):
       d["extfs_rsv_pct"] = "0"
     copy_prop("system_ext_reserved_size", "partition_reserved_size")
     copy_prop("system_ext_selinux_fc", "selinux_fc")
+    copy_prop("system_ext_disable_sparse", "disable_sparse")
   elif mount_point == "odm":
     copy_prop("avb_odm_hashtree_enable", "avb_hashtree_enable")
     copy_prop("avb_odm_add_hashtree_footer_args",
@@ -783,6 +792,7 @@ def ImagePropFromGlobalDict(glob_dict, mount_point):
       d["extfs_rsv_pct"] = "0"
     copy_prop("odm_reserved_size", "partition_reserved_size")
     copy_prop("odm_selinux_fc", "selinux_fc")
+    copy_prop("odm_disable_sparse", "disable_sparse")
   elif mount_point == "vendor_dlkm":
     copy_prop("avb_vendor_dlkm_hashtree_enable", "avb_hashtree_enable")
     copy_prop("avb_vendor_dlkm_add_hashtree_footer_args",
@@ -808,6 +818,7 @@ def ImagePropFromGlobalDict(glob_dict, mount_point):
       d["extfs_rsv_pct"] = "0"
     copy_prop("vendor_dlkm_reserved_size", "partition_reserved_size")
     copy_prop("vendor_dlkm_selinux_fc", "selinux_fc")
+    copy_prop("vendor_dlkm_disable_sparse", "disable_sparse")
   elif mount_point == "odm_dlkm":
     copy_prop("avb_odm_dlkm_hashtree_enable", "avb_hashtree_enable")
     copy_prop("avb_odm_dlkm_add_hashtree_footer_args",
@@ -831,6 +842,7 @@ def ImagePropFromGlobalDict(glob_dict, mount_point):
       d["extfs_rsv_pct"] = "0"
     copy_prop("odm_dlkm_reserved_size", "partition_reserved_size")
     copy_prop("odm_dlkm_selinux_fc", "selinux_fc")
+    copy_prop("odm_dlkm_disable_sparse", "disable_sparse")
   elif mount_point == "oem":
     copy_prop("fs_type", "fs_type")
     copy_prop("oem_size", "partition_size")
diff --git a/tools/releasetools/common.py b/tools/releasetools/common.py
index f30e382ea8..c6800e83b8 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/common.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/common.py
@@ -1983,6 +1983,8 @@ def GetUserImage(which, tmpdir, input_zip,
     info_dict = LoadInfoDict(input_zip)
 
   is_sparse = info_dict.get("extfs_sparse_flag")
+  if info_dict.get(which + "_disable_sparse"):
+    is_sparse = False
 
   # When target uses 'BOARD_EXT4_SHARE_DUP_BLOCKS := true', images may contain
   # shared blocks (i.e. some blocks will show up in multiple files' block
@@ -3851,12 +3853,14 @@ def GetCareMap(which, imgname):
   if not image_size:
     return None
 
+  disable_sparse = OPTIONS.info_dict.get(which + "_disable_sparse")
+
   image_blocks = int(image_size) // 4096 - 1
   assert image_blocks > 0, "blocks for {} must be positive".format(which)
 
   # For sparse images, we will only check the blocks that are listed in the care
   # map, i.e. the ones with meaningful data.
-  if "extfs_sparse_flag" in OPTIONS.info_dict:
+  if "extfs_sparse_flag" in OPTIONS.info_dict and not disable_sparse:
     simg = sparse_img.SparseImage(imgname)
     care_map_ranges = simg.care_map.intersect(
         rangelib.RangeSet("0-{}".format(image_blocks)))