diff --git a/core/config.mk b/core/config.mk
index 5de5504..0c6653a 100644
--- a/core/config.mk
+++ b/core/config.mk
@@ -342,6 +342,23 @@
 JAVA_TMPDIR_ARG :=
 endif
 
+# These build broken variables are intended to be set in a buildspec file,
+# while other build broken flags are expected to be set in a board config.
+# These are build broken variables that are expected to apply across board
+# configs, generally for cross-cutting features.
+
+# Build broken variables that should be treated as booleans
+_build_broken_bool_vars := \
+  BUILD_BROKEN_USES_SOONG_PYTHON2_MODULES \
+
+# Build broken variables that should be treated as lists
+_build_broken_list_vars := \
+  BUILD_BROKEN_PLUGIN_VALIDATION \
+
+_build_broken_var_names := $(_build_broken_bool_vars)
+_build_broken_var_names += $(_build_broken_list_vars)
+$(foreach v,$(_build_broken_var_names),$(eval $(v) :=))
+
 # ###############################################################
 # Include sub-configuration files
 # ###############################################################
@@ -371,6 +388,13 @@
 # are specific to the user's build configuration.
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/envsetup.mk
 
+
+$(foreach var,$(_build_broken_bool_vars), \
+  $(if $(filter-out true false,$($(var))), \
+    $(error Valid values of $(var) are "true", "false", and "". Not "$($(var))")))
+
+.KATI_READONLY := $(_build_broken_var_names)
+
 # Returns true if it is a low memory device, otherwise it returns false.
 define is-low-mem-device
 $(if $(findstring ro.config.low_ram=true,$(PRODUCT_PROPERTY_OVERRIDES)),true,\