diff --git a/core/product.mk b/core/product.mk
index ad80ee4..8d86d92 100644
--- a/core/product.mk
+++ b/core/product.mk
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 _product_single_value_vars += PRODUCT_MODEL
 _product_single_value_vars += PRODUCT_NAME_FOR_ATTESTATION
 _product_single_value_vars += PRODUCT_MODEL_FOR_ATTESTATION
+_product_single_value_vars += PRODUCT_BASE_OS
 
 # Defines the ELF segment alignment for binaries (executables and shared libraries).
 # The ELF segment alignment has to be a PAGE_SIZE multiple. For example, if
diff --git a/core/product_config.mk b/core/product_config.mk
index cc2fea9..738d4cf 100644
--- a/core/product_config.mk
+++ b/core/product_config.mk
@@ -311,6 +311,14 @@
 
 TARGET_DEVICE := $(PRODUCT_DEVICE)
 
+# Allow overriding PLATFORM_BASE_OS when PRODUCT_BASE_OS is defined
+ifdef PRODUCT_BASE_OS
+  PLATFORM_BASE_OS := $(PRODUCT_BASE_OS)
+else
+  PLATFORM_BASE_OS := $(PLATFORM_BASE_OS_ENV_INPUT)
+endif
+.KATI_READONLY := PLATFORM_BASE_OS
+
 # TODO: also keep track of things like "port", "land" in product files.
 
 # Figure out which resoure configuration options to use for this
diff --git a/core/version_util.mk b/core/version_util.mk
index eb568be..0e34634 100644
--- a/core/version_util.mk
+++ b/core/version_util.mk
@@ -183,14 +183,17 @@
 endif
 .KATI_READONLY := PLATFORM_SECURITY_PATCH_TIMESTAMP
 
-ifndef PLATFORM_BASE_OS
-  # Used to indicate the base os applied to the device.
-  # Can be an arbitrary string, but must be a single word.
-  #
-  # If there is no $PLATFORM_BASE_OS set, keep it empty.
-  PLATFORM_BASE_OS :=
-endif
-.KATI_READONLY := PLATFORM_BASE_OS
+# PLATFORM_BASE_OS is used to indicate the base os applied
+# to the device. Can be an arbitrary string, but must be a
+# single word.
+#
+# If there is no $PLATFORM_BASE_OS set, keep it empty.
+#
+# PLATFORM_BASE_OS can either be set via an enviornment
+# variable, or set via the PRODUCT_BASE_OS product variable.
+PLATFORM_BASE_OS_ENV_INPUT := $(PLATFORM_BASE_OS)
+.KATI_READONLY := PLATFORM_BASE_OS_ENV_INPUT
+PLATFORM_BASE_OS :=
 
 ifndef BUILD_ID
   # Used to signify special builds.  E.g., branches and/or releases,