diff --git a/tools/releasetools/verity_utils.py b/tools/releasetools/verity_utils.py
index a08ddbede6..d55ad88d8d 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/verity_utils.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/verity_utils.py
@@ -379,6 +379,11 @@ class VerifiedBootVersion2VerityImageBuilder(VerityImageBuilder):
     self.avbtool = avbtool
     self.algorithm = algorithm
     self.key_path = key_path
+    if key_path and not os.path.exists(key_path) and OPTIONS.search_path:
+      new_key_path = os.path.join(OPTIONS.search_path, key_path)
+      if os.path.exists(new_key_path):
+        self.key_path = new_key_path
+
     self.salt = salt
     self.signing_args = signing_args
     self.image_size = None