diff --git a/apex/apex.go b/apex/apex.go
index 62013cf63..76af1b82e 100644
--- a/apex/apex.go
+++ b/apex/apex.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ package apex
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"regexp"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -1657,20 +1656,7 @@ type androidApp interface {
 var _ androidApp = (*java.AndroidApp)(nil)
 var _ androidApp = (*java.AndroidAppImport)(nil)
 
-func sanitizedBuildIdForPath(ctx android.BaseModuleContext) string {
-	buildId := ctx.Config().BuildId()
-
-	// The build ID is used as a suffix for a filename, so ensure that
-	// the set of characters being used are sanitized.
-	// - any word character: [a-zA-Z0-9_]
-	// - dots: .
-	// - dashes: -
-	validRegex := regexp.MustCompile(`^[\w\.\-\_]+$`)
-	if !validRegex.MatchString(buildId) {
-		ctx.ModuleErrorf("Unable to use build id %s as filename suffix, valid characters are [a-z A-Z 0-9 _ . -].", buildId)
-	}
-	return buildId
-}
+const APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER = "__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__"
 
 func apexFileForAndroidApp(ctx android.BaseModuleContext, aapp androidApp) apexFile {
 	appDir := "app"
@@ -1681,7 +1667,7 @@ func apexFileForAndroidApp(ctx android.BaseModuleContext, aapp androidApp) apexF
 	// TODO(b/224589412, b/226559955): Ensure that the subdirname is suffixed
 	// so that PackageManager correctly invalidates the existing installed apk
 	// in favour of the new APK-in-APEX.  See bugs for more information.
-	dirInApex := filepath.Join(appDir, aapp.InstallApkName()+"@"+sanitizedBuildIdForPath(ctx))
+	dirInApex := filepath.Join(appDir, aapp.InstallApkName()+"@"+APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER)
 	fileToCopy := aapp.OutputFile()
 
 	af := newApexFile(ctx, fileToCopy, aapp.BaseModuleName(), dirInApex, app, aapp)
@@ -1920,7 +1906,7 @@ func (a *apexBundle) GenerateAndroidBuildActions(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
 					// suffixed so that PackageManager correctly invalidates the
 					// existing installed apk in favour of the new APK-in-APEX.
 					// See bugs for more information.
-					appDirName := filepath.Join(appDir, ap.BaseModuleName()+"@"+sanitizedBuildIdForPath(ctx))
+					appDirName := filepath.Join(appDir, ap.BaseModuleName()+"@"+APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER)
 					af := newApexFile(ctx, ap.OutputFile(), ap.BaseModuleName(), appDirName, appSet, ap)
 					af.certificate = java.PresignedCertificate
 					filesInfo = append(filesInfo, af)
diff --git a/apex/apex_test.go b/apex/apex_test.go
index 7b2905884..4a52115db 100644
--- a/apex/apex_test.go
+++ b/apex/apex_test.go
@@ -223,7 +223,6 @@ var prepareForApexTest = android.GroupFixturePreparers(
 		// not because of these tests specifically (it's not used by the tests)
 		variables.Platform_version_active_codenames = []string{"Q", "Tiramisu"}
 		variables.Platform_vndk_version = proptools.StringPtr("29")
-		variables.BuildId = proptools.StringPtr("TEST.BUILD_ID")
 	}),
 )
 
@@ -683,7 +682,7 @@ func TestDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 		"etc/myetc",
 		"javalib/myjar.jar",
 		"lib64/mylib.so",
-		"app/AppFoo@TEST.BUILD_ID/AppFoo.apk",
+		"app/AppFoo@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/AppFoo.apk",
 		"overlay/blue/rro.apk",
 		"etc/bpf/bpf.o",
 		"etc/bpf/bpf2.o",
@@ -5683,8 +5682,8 @@ func TestApexWithApps(t *testing.T) {
 	apexRule := module.Rule("apexRule")
 	copyCmds := apexRule.Args["copy_commands"]
 
-	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/AppFoo@TEST.BUILD_ID/AppFoo.apk")
-	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/priv-app/AppFooPriv@TEST.BUILD_ID/AppFooPriv.apk")
+	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/AppFoo@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/AppFoo.apk")
+	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/priv-app/AppFooPriv@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/AppFooPriv.apk")
 
 	appZipRule := ctx.ModuleForTests("AppFoo", "android_common_apex10000").Description("zip jni libs")
 	// JNI libraries are uncompressed
@@ -5701,36 +5700,6 @@ func TestApexWithApps(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestApexWithAppImportBuildId(t *testing.T) {
-	invalidBuildIds := []string{"../", "a b", "a/b", "a/b/../c", "/a"}
-	for _, id := range invalidBuildIds {
-		message := fmt.Sprintf("Unable to use build id %s as filename suffix", id)
-		fixture := android.FixtureModifyProductVariables(func(variables android.FixtureProductVariables) {
-			variables.BuildId = proptools.StringPtr(id)
-		})
-		testApexError(t, message, `apex {
-			name: "myapex",
-			key: "myapex.key",
-			apps: ["AppFooPrebuilt"],
-			updatable: false,
-		}
-
-		apex_key {
-			name: "myapex.key",
-			public_key: "testkey.avbpubkey",
-			private_key: "testkey.pem",
-		}
-
-		android_app_import {
-			name: "AppFooPrebuilt",
-			apk: "PrebuiltAppFoo.apk",
-			presigned: true,
-			apex_available: ["myapex"],
-		}
-	`, fixture)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestApexWithAppImports(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := testApex(t, `
 		apex {
@@ -5776,8 +5745,8 @@ func TestApexWithAppImports(t *testing.T) {
 	apexRule := module.Rule("apexRule")
 	copyCmds := apexRule.Args["copy_commands"]
 
-	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/AppFooPrebuilt@TEST.BUILD_ID/AppFooPrebuilt.apk")
-	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/priv-app/AppFooPrivPrebuilt@TEST.BUILD_ID/AwesomePrebuiltAppFooPriv.apk")
+	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/AppFooPrebuilt@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/AppFooPrebuilt.apk")
+	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/priv-app/AppFooPrivPrebuilt@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/AwesomePrebuiltAppFooPriv.apk")
 }
 
 func TestApexWithAppImportsPrefer(t *testing.T) {
@@ -5818,7 +5787,7 @@ func TestApexWithAppImportsPrefer(t *testing.T) {
 	}))
 
 	ensureExactContents(t, ctx, "myapex", "android_common_myapex_image", []string{
-		"app/AppFoo@TEST.BUILD_ID/AppFooPrebuilt.apk",
+		"app/AppFoo@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/AppFooPrebuilt.apk",
 	})
 }
 
@@ -5851,7 +5820,7 @@ func TestApexWithTestHelperApp(t *testing.T) {
 	apexRule := module.Rule("apexRule")
 	copyCmds := apexRule.Args["copy_commands"]
 
-	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/TesterHelpAppFoo@TEST.BUILD_ID/TesterHelpAppFoo.apk")
+	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/TesterHelpAppFoo@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/TesterHelpAppFoo.apk")
 }
 
 func TestApexPropertiesShouldBeDefaultable(t *testing.T) {
@@ -6294,8 +6263,8 @@ func TestOverrideApex(t *testing.T) {
 	apexRule := module.Rule("apexRule")
 	copyCmds := apexRule.Args["copy_commands"]
 
-	ensureNotContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/app@TEST.BUILD_ID/app.apk")
-	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/override_app@TEST.BUILD_ID/override_app.apk")
+	ensureNotContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/app@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/app.apk")
+	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/app/override_app@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/override_app.apk")
 
 	ensureNotContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/etc/bpf/bpf.o")
 	ensureContains(t, copyCmds, "image.apex/etc/bpf/override_bpf.o")
@@ -7199,7 +7168,7 @@ func TestAppBundle(t *testing.T) {
 	content := bundleConfigRule.Args["content"]
 
 	ensureContains(t, content, `"compression":{"uncompressed_glob":["apex_payload.img","apex_manifest.*"]}`)
-	ensureContains(t, content, `"apex_config":{"apex_embedded_apk_config":[{"package_name":"com.android.foo","path":"app/AppFoo@TEST.BUILD_ID/AppFoo.apk"}]}`)
+	ensureContains(t, content, `"apex_config":{"apex_embedded_apk_config":[{"package_name":"com.android.foo","path":"app/AppFoo@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__/AppFoo.apk"}]}`)
 }
 
 func TestAppSetBundle(t *testing.T) {
@@ -7230,9 +7199,9 @@ func TestAppSetBundle(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(copyCmds) != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected 3 commands, got %d in:\n%s", len(copyCmds), s)
 	}
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[0], "^rm -rf .*/app/AppSet@TEST.BUILD_ID$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[1], "^mkdir -p .*/app/AppSet@TEST.BUILD_ID$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[2], "^unzip .*-d .*/app/AppSet@TEST.BUILD_ID .*/AppSet.zip$")
+	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[0], "^rm -rf .*/app/AppSet@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__$")
+	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[1], "^mkdir -p .*/app/AppSet@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__$")
+	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[2], "^unzip .*-d .*/app/AppSet@__APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER__ .*/AppSet.zip$")
 }
 
 func TestAppSetBundlePrebuilt(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/apex/builder.go b/apex/builder.go
index abbf8ad25..d4765d022 100644
--- a/apex/builder.go
+++ b/apex/builder.go
@@ -107,14 +107,16 @@ var (
 			`--canned_fs_config ${canned_fs_config} ` +
 			`--include_build_info ` +
 			`--payload_type image ` +
-			`--key ${key} ${opt_flags} ${image_dir} ${out} `,
+			`--key ${key} ` +
+			`--apex_version_placeholder ${apex_version_placeholder} ` +
+			`${opt_flags} ${image_dir} ${out} `,
 		CommandDeps: []string{"${apexer}", "${avbtool}", "${e2fsdroid}", "${merge_zips}",
 			"${mke2fs}", "${resize2fs}", "${sefcontext_compile}", "${make_f2fs}", "${sload_f2fs}", "${make_erofs}",
 			"${soong_zip}", "${zipalign}", "${aapt2}", "prebuilts/sdk/current/public/android.jar"},
 		Rspfile:        "${out}.copy_commands",
 		RspfileContent: "${copy_commands}",
 		Description:    "APEX ${image_dir} => ${out}",
-	}, "tool_path", "image_dir", "copy_commands", "file_contexts", "canned_fs_config", "key", "opt_flags", "manifest", "payload_fs_type")
+	}, "tool_path", "image_dir", "copy_commands", "file_contexts", "canned_fs_config", "key", "opt_flags", "manifest", "payload_fs_type", "apex_version_placeholder")
 
 	zipApexRule = pctx.StaticRule("zipApexRule", blueprint.RuleParams{
 		Command: `rm -rf ${image_dir} && mkdir -p ${image_dir} && ` +
@@ -122,12 +124,13 @@ var (
 			`APEXER_TOOL_PATH=${tool_path} ` +
 			`${apexer} --force --manifest ${manifest} ` +
 			`--payload_type zip ` +
+			`--apex_version_placeholder ${apex_version_placeholder} ` +
 			`${image_dir} ${out} `,
 		CommandDeps:    []string{"${apexer}", "${merge_zips}", "${soong_zip}", "${zipalign}", "${aapt2}"},
 		Rspfile:        "${out}.copy_commands",
 		RspfileContent: "${copy_commands}",
 		Description:    "ZipAPEX ${image_dir} => ${out}",
-	}, "tool_path", "image_dir", "copy_commands", "manifest")
+	}, "tool_path", "image_dir", "copy_commands", "manifest", "apex_version_placeholder")
 
 	apexProtoConvertRule = pctx.AndroidStaticRule("apexProtoConvertRule",
 		blueprint.RuleParams{
@@ -658,14 +661,15 @@ func (a *apexBundle) buildUnflattenedApex(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
 			Output:      unsignedOutputFile,
 			Description: "apex (" + apexType.name() + ")",
 			Args: map[string]string{
-				"tool_path":        outHostBinDir + ":" + prebuiltSdkToolsBinDir,
-				"image_dir":        imageDir.String(),
-				"copy_commands":    strings.Join(copyCommands, " && "),
-				"manifest":         a.manifestPbOut.String(),
-				"file_contexts":    fileContexts.String(),
-				"canned_fs_config": cannedFsConfig.String(),
-				"key":              a.privateKeyFile.String(),
-				"opt_flags":        strings.Join(optFlags, " "),
+				"tool_path":                outHostBinDir + ":" + prebuiltSdkToolsBinDir,
+				"image_dir":                imageDir.String(),
+				"copy_commands":            strings.Join(copyCommands, " && "),
+				"manifest":                 a.manifestPbOut.String(),
+				"file_contexts":            fileContexts.String(),
+				"canned_fs_config":         cannedFsConfig.String(),
+				"key":                      a.privateKeyFile.String(),
+				"opt_flags":                strings.Join(optFlags, " "),
+				"apex_version_placeholder": APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER,
 			},
 		})
 
@@ -757,10 +761,11 @@ func (a *apexBundle) buildUnflattenedApex(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
 			Output:      unsignedOutputFile,
 			Description: "apex (" + apexType.name() + ")",
 			Args: map[string]string{
-				"tool_path":     outHostBinDir + ":" + prebuiltSdkToolsBinDir,
-				"image_dir":     imageDir.String(),
-				"copy_commands": strings.Join(copyCommands, " && "),
-				"manifest":      a.manifestPbOut.String(),
+				"tool_path":                outHostBinDir + ":" + prebuiltSdkToolsBinDir,
+				"image_dir":                imageDir.String(),
+				"copy_commands":            strings.Join(copyCommands, " && "),
+				"manifest":                 a.manifestPbOut.String(),
+				"apex_version_placeholder": APEX_VERSION_PLACEHOLDER,
 			},
 		})
 	}