diff --git a/android/apex.go b/android/apex.go
index 839a03af0..398fbaee1 100644
--- a/android/apex.go
+++ b/android/apex.go
@@ -108,6 +108,11 @@ type ApexModule interface {
 
 	// Tests if the module comes from an updatable APEX.
 	Updatable() bool
+
+	// List of APEXes that this module tests. The module has access to
+	// the private part of the listed APEXes even when it is not included in the
+	// APEXes.
+	TestFor() []string
 }
 
 type ApexProperties struct {
@@ -151,6 +156,11 @@ func (m *ApexModuleBase) ApexAvailable() []string {
 	return m.ApexProperties.Apex_available
 }
 
+func (m *ApexModuleBase) TestFor() []string {
+	// To be implemented by concrete types inheriting ApexModuleBase
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (m *ApexModuleBase) BuildForApexes(apexes []ApexInfo) {
 	m.apexVariationsLock.Lock()
 	defer m.apexVariationsLock.Unlock()
diff --git a/apex/apex_test.go b/apex/apex_test.go
index b1e7bc9c1..8807d00c4 100644
--- a/apex/apex_test.go
+++ b/apex/apex_test.go
@@ -4533,6 +4533,58 @@ func TestNoUpdatableJarsInBootImage(t *testing.T) {
 	testNoUpdatableJarsInBootImage(t, "", bp, transform)
 }
 
+func TestTestFor(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx, _ := testApex(t, `
+		apex {
+			name: "myapex",
+			key: "myapex.key",
+			native_shared_libs: ["mylib", "myprivlib"],
+		}
+
+		apex_key {
+			name: "myapex.key",
+			public_key: "testkey.avbpubkey",
+			private_key: "testkey.pem",
+		}
+
+		cc_library {
+			name: "mylib",
+			srcs: ["mylib.cpp"],
+			system_shared_libs: [],
+			stl: "none",
+			stubs: {
+				versions: ["1"],
+			},
+			apex_available: ["myapex"],
+		}
+
+		cc_library {
+			name: "myprivlib",
+			srcs: ["mylib.cpp"],
+			system_shared_libs: [],
+			stl: "none",
+			apex_available: ["myapex"],
+		}
+
+
+		cc_test {
+			name: "mytest",
+			gtest: false,
+			srcs: ["mylib.cpp"],
+			system_shared_libs: [],
+			stl: "none",
+			shared_libs: ["mylib", "myprivlib"],
+			test_for: ["myapex"]
+		}
+	`)
+
+	// the test 'mytest' is a test for the apex, therefore is linked to the
+	// actual implementation of mylib instead of its stub.
+	ldFlags := ctx.ModuleForTests("mytest", "android_arm64_armv8-a").Rule("ld").Args["libFlags"]
+	ensureContains(t, ldFlags, "mylib/android_arm64_armv8-a_shared/mylib.so")
+	ensureNotContains(t, ldFlags, "mylib/android_arm64_armv8-a_shared_1/mylib.so")
+}
+
 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	run := func() int {
 		setUp()
diff --git a/cc/cc.go b/cc/cc.go
index 24173ee32..66425c7de 100644
--- a/cc/cc.go
+++ b/cc/cc.go
@@ -2338,6 +2338,15 @@ func (c *Module) depsToPaths(ctx android.ModuleContext) PathDeps {
 						// always link to non-stub variant
 						useThisDep = !depIsStubs
 					}
+					for _, testFor := range c.TestFor() {
+						// Another exception: if this module is bundled with an APEX, then
+						// it is linked with the non-stub variant of a module in the APEX
+						// as if this is part of the APEX.
+						if android.DirectlyInApex(testFor, depName) {
+							useThisDep = !depIsStubs
+							break
+						}
+					}
 				} else {
 					// If building for APEX, use stubs only when it is not from
 					// the same APEX
@@ -2764,6 +2773,16 @@ func (c *Module) AvailableFor(what string) bool {
 	}
 }
 
+func (c *Module) TestFor() []string {
+	if test, ok := c.linker.(interface {
+		testFor() []string
+	}); ok {
+		return test.testFor()
+	} else {
+		return c.ApexModuleBase.TestFor()
+	}
+}
+
 // Return true if the module is ever installable.
 func (c *Module) EverInstallable() bool {
 	return c.installer != nil &&
diff --git a/cc/test.go b/cc/test.go
index 1085d3a69..f51cf01f2 100644
--- a/cc/test.go
+++ b/cc/test.go
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ type TestProperties struct {
 
 	// if set, use the isolated gtest runner. Defaults to false.
 	Isolated *bool
+
+	// List of APEXes that this module tests. The module has access to
+	// the private part of the listed APEXes even when it is not included in the
+	// APEXes.
+	Test_for []string
 }
 
 // Test option struct.
@@ -215,6 +220,10 @@ func (test *testDecorator) gtest() bool {
 	return BoolDefault(test.Properties.Gtest, true)
 }
 
+func (test *testDecorator) testFor() []string {
+	return test.Properties.Test_for
+}
+
 func (test *testDecorator) linkerFlags(ctx ModuleContext, flags Flags) Flags {
 	if !test.gtest() {
 		return flags