diff --git a/tools/releasetools/build_super_image.py b/tools/releasetools/build_super_image.py
index 38ea3d6..0105960 100755
--- a/tools/releasetools/build_super_image.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/build_super_image.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@
 
       cmd += GetArgumentsForImage(partition + "_b", group + "_b", other_image)
 
-  if has_image:
+  if info_dict.get("build_non_sparse_super_partition") != "true":
     cmd.append("--sparse")
 
   cmd += ["--output", output]