diff --git a/tools/releasetools/common.py b/tools/releasetools/common.py
index e5f5f92..3fc08c6 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/common.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/common.py
@@ -1410,7 +1410,22 @@
   return errors
 
 
-def RunHostInitVerifier(product_out, partition_map):
+def RunVendoredHostInitVerifier(product_out, partition_map):
+  """Runs vendor host_init_verifier on the init rc files within selected partitions.
+
+  host_init_verifier searches the etc/init path within each selected partition.
+
+  Args:
+    product_out: PRODUCT_OUT directory, containing partition directories.
+    partition_map: A map of partition name -> relative path within product_out.
+  """
+  return RunHostInitVerifier(
+      product_out,
+      partition_map,
+      tool=os.path.join(OPTIONS.vendor_otatools, 'bin', 'host_init_verifier'))
+
+
+def RunHostInitVerifier(product_out, partition_map, tool="host_init_verifier"):
   """Runs host_init_verifier on the init rc files within partitions.
 
   host_init_verifier searches the etc/init path within each partition.
@@ -1418,9 +1433,10 @@
   Args:
     product_out: PRODUCT_OUT directory, containing partition directories.
     partition_map: A map of partition name -> relative path within product_out.
+    tool: Full path to host_init_verifier or binary name
   """
   allowed_partitions = ("system", "system_ext", "product", "vendor", "odm")
-  cmd = ["host_init_verifier"]
+  cmd = [tool]
   for partition, path in partition_map.items():
     if partition not in allowed_partitions:
       raise ExternalError("Unable to call host_init_verifier for partition %s" %