diff --git a/tools/releasetools/common.py b/tools/releasetools/common.py
index 93e14e5..8a59a39 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/common.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/common.py
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@
     AddAftlInclusionProof(image_path)
 
 
-def _MakeRamdisk(sourcedir, fs_config_file=None):
+def _MakeRamdisk(sourcedir, fs_config_file=None, lz4_ramdisks=False):
   ramdisk_img = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile()
 
   if fs_config_file is not None and os.access(fs_config_file, os.F_OK):
@@ -1200,12 +1200,16 @@
   else:
     cmd = ["mkbootfs", os.path.join(sourcedir, "RAMDISK")]
   p1 = Run(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
-  p2 = Run(["minigzip"], stdin=p1.stdout, stdout=ramdisk_img.file.fileno())
+  if lz4_ramdisks:
+    p2 = Run(["lz4", "-l", "-12" , "--favor-decSpeed"], stdin=p1.stdout,
+             stdout=ramdisk_img.file.fileno())
+  else:
+    p2 = Run(["minigzip"], stdin=p1.stdout, stdout=ramdisk_img.file.fileno())
 
   p2.wait()
   p1.wait()
   assert p1.returncode == 0, "mkbootfs of %s ramdisk failed" % (sourcedir,)
-  assert p2.returncode == 0, "minigzip of %s ramdisk failed" % (sourcedir,)
+  assert p2.returncode == 0, "compression of %s ramdisk failed" % (sourcedir,)
 
   return ramdisk_img
 
@@ -1243,7 +1247,8 @@
   img = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile()
 
   if has_ramdisk:
-    ramdisk_img = _MakeRamdisk(sourcedir, fs_config_file)
+    use_lz4 = info_dict.get("lz4_ramdisks") == 'true'
+    ramdisk_img = _MakeRamdisk(sourcedir, fs_config_file, lz4_ramdisks=use_lz4)
 
   # use MKBOOTIMG from environ, or "mkbootimg" if empty or not set
   mkbootimg = os.getenv('MKBOOTIMG') or "mkbootimg"
@@ -1427,7 +1432,8 @@
 
   img = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile()
 
-  ramdisk_img = _MakeRamdisk(sourcedir)
+  use_lz4 = info_dict.get("lz4_ramdisks") == 'true'
+  ramdisk_img = _MakeRamdisk(sourcedir, lz4_ramdisks=use_lz4)
 
   # use MKBOOTIMG from environ, or "mkbootimg" if empty or not set
   mkbootimg = os.getenv('MKBOOTIMG') or "mkbootimg"