diff --git a/core/Makefile b/core/Makefile
index c51babb..caca065 100644
--- a/core/Makefile
+++ b/core/Makefile
@@ -3477,7 +3477,7 @@
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------
 # Protected VM firmware image
-ifdef BOARD_PREBUILT_PVMFWIMAGE
+ifeq ($(BOARD_USES_PVMFWIMAGE),true)
 INSTALLED_PVMFWIMAGE_TARGET := $(PRODUCT_OUT)/pvmfw.img
 
 ifeq ($(BOARD_AVB_ENABLE),true)
@@ -3493,7 +3493,7 @@
 	cp $(BOARD_PREBUILT_PVMFWIMAGE) $@
 endif
 
-endif # BOARD_PREBUILT_PVMFWIMAGE
+endif # BOARD_USES_PVMFWIMAGE
 
 # Returns a list of image targets corresponding to the given list of partitions. For example, it
 # returns "$(INSTALLED_PRODUCTIMAGE_TARGET)" for "product", or "$(INSTALLED_SYSTEMIMAGE_TARGET)
@@ -4668,7 +4668,7 @@
 endif # BOARD_AVB_DTBO_KEY_PATH
 endif # BOARD_AVB_ENABLE
 endif # BOARD_PREBUILT_DTBOIMAGE
-ifdef BOARD_PREBUILT_PVMFWIMAGE
+ifeq ($(BOARD_USES_PVMFWIMAGE),true)
 	$(hide) echo "has_pvmfw=true" >> $@
 ifeq ($(BOARD_AVB_ENABLE),true)
 	$(hide) echo "pvmfw_size=$(BOARD_PVMFWIMG_PARTITION_SIZE)" >> $@
@@ -4679,7 +4679,7 @@
 	$(hide) echo "avb_pvmfw_rollback_index_location=$(BOARD_AVB_PVMFW_ROLLBACK_INDEX_LOCATION)" >> $@
 endif # BOARD_AVB_PVMFW_KEY_PATH
 endif # BOARD_AVB_ENABLE
-endif # BOARD_PREBUILT_PVMFWIMAGE
+endif # BOARD_USES_PVMFWIMAGE
 	$(call dump-dynamic-partitions-info,$@)
 	@# VINTF checks
 ifeq ($(PRODUCT_ENFORCE_VINTF_MANIFEST),true)
diff --git a/core/board_config.mk b/core/board_config.mk
index 53dbb92..56c3e71 100644
--- a/core/board_config.mk
+++ b/core/board_config.mk
@@ -695,6 +695,12 @@
 endif
 .KATI_READONLY := BUILDING_ODM_DLKM_IMAGE
 
+BOARD_USES_PVMFWIMAGE :=
+ifdef BOARD_PREBUILT_PVMFWIMAGE
+  BOARD_USES_PVMFWIMAGE := true
+endif
+.KATI_READONLY := BOARD_USES_PVMFWIMAGE
+
 ###########################################
 # Ensure consistency among TARGET_RECOVERY_UPDATER_LIBS, AB_OTA_UPDATER, and PRODUCT_OTA_FORCE_NON_AB_PACKAGE.
 TARGET_RECOVERY_UPDATER_LIBS ?=