diff --git a/cc/gen.go b/cc/gen.go
index 1d30dabd7..c9f45ee3d 100644
--- a/cc/gen.go
+++ b/cc/gen.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 
 func init() {
 	pctx.SourcePathVariable("lexCmd", "prebuilts/build-tools/${config.HostPrebuiltTag}/bin/flex")
+	pctx.SourcePathVariable("m4Cmd", "prebuilts/build-tools/${config.HostPrebuiltTag}/bin/m4")
 
 	pctx.HostBinToolVariable("aidlCmd", "aidl-cpp")
 	pctx.HostBinToolVariable("syspropCmd", "sysprop_cpp")
@@ -33,8 +34,8 @@ func init() {
 var (
 	lex = pctx.AndroidStaticRule("lex",
 		blueprint.RuleParams{
-			Command:     "$lexCmd -o$out $in",
-			CommandDeps: []string{"$lexCmd"},
+			Command:     "M4=$m4Cmd $lexCmd -o$out $in",
+			CommandDeps: []string{"$lexCmd", "$m4Cmd"},
 		})
 
 	sysprop = pctx.AndroidStaticRule("sysprop",
diff --git a/cc/makevars.go b/cc/makevars.go
index a71f479a4..78a32c8b3 100644
--- a/cc/makevars.go
+++ b/cc/makevars.go
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ func makeVarsProvider(ctx android.MakeVarsContext) {
 
 	ctx.Strict("AIDL_CPP", "${aidlCmd}")
 
+	ctx.Strict("M4", "${m4Cmd}")
+
 	ctx.Strict("RS_GLOBAL_INCLUDES", "${config.RsGlobalIncludes}")
 
 	ctx.Strict("SOONG_STRIP_PATH", "${stripPath}")
diff --git a/ui/build/paths/config.go b/ui/build/paths/config.go
index c9946e297..fcc43099f 100644
--- a/ui/build/paths/config.go
+++ b/ui/build/paths/config.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ var Configuration = map[string]PathConfig{
 	"java":     Allowed,
 	"javap":    Allowed,
 	"lsof":     Allowed,
-	"m4":       Allowed,
+	"m4":       Log,
 	"openssl":  Allowed,
 	"patch":    Allowed,
 	"pstree":   Allowed,