diff --git a/tools/releasetools/common.py b/tools/releasetools/common.py
index 8d51df6..ee2c6f4 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/common.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/common.py
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@
     cmd.extend(["--key", key_path, "--algorithm", algorithm])
   avb_salt = OPTIONS.info_dict.get("avb_salt")
   # make_vbmeta_image doesn't like "--salt" (and it's not needed).
-  if avb_salt and partition != "vbmeta":
+  if avb_salt and not partition.startswith("vbmeta"):
     cmd.extend(["--salt", avb_salt])