diff --git a/tools/releasetools/validate_target_files.py b/tools/releasetools/validate_target_files.py
index e8cea29..acd5b6e 100755
--- a/tools/releasetools/validate_target_files.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/validate_target_files.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
           file_name, actual_sha1, expected_sha1)
 
 
-def ValidateFileConsistency(input_zip, input_tmp):
+def ValidateFileConsistency(input_zip, input_tmp, info_dict):
   """Compare the files from image files and unpacked folders."""
 
   def CheckAllFiles(which):
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@
 
   logging.info('Validating file consistency.')
 
+  # TODO(b/79617342): Validate non-sparse images.
+  if info_dict.get('extfs_sparse_flag') != '-s':
+    logging.warning('Skipped due to target using non-sparse images')
+    return
+
   # Verify IMAGES/system.img.
   CheckAllFiles('system')
 
@@ -324,10 +329,10 @@
   logging.info("Unzipping the input target_files.zip: %s", args.target_files)
   input_tmp = common.UnzipTemp(args.target_files)
 
-  with zipfile.ZipFile(args.target_files, 'r') as input_zip:
-    ValidateFileConsistency(input_zip, input_tmp)
-
   info_dict = common.LoadInfoDict(input_tmp)
+  with zipfile.ZipFile(args.target_files, 'r') as input_zip:
+    ValidateFileConsistency(input_zip, input_tmp, info_dict)
+
   ValidateInstallRecoveryScript(input_tmp, info_dict)
 
   ValidateVerifiedBootImages(input_tmp, info_dict, options)