diff --git a/core/main.mk b/core/main.mk
index 2d62b66aec..2f6b297ec7 100644
--- a/core/main.mk
+++ b/core/main.mk
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ ifneq ($(filter dalvik.gc.type-precise,$(PRODUCT_TAGS)),)
   ADDITIONAL_BUILD_PROPERTIES += dalvik.vm.dexopt-flags=m=y
 endif
 
+ifeq (,$(TARGET_BUILD_APPS))
 # Install an apns-conf.xml file if one's not already being installed.
 ifeq (,$(filter %:system/etc/apns-conf.xml, $(PRODUCT_COPY_FILES)))
   PRODUCT_COPY_FILES += \
@@ -296,6 +297,7 @@ ifneq ($(filter eng tests,$(TARGET_BUILD_VARIANT)),)
     endif
   endif
 endif
+endif # !TARGET_BUILD_APPS
 
 ADDITIONAL_BUILD_PROPERTIES += net.bt.name=Android