diff --git a/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py b/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
index 3d24310..8783f25 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@
     self.apex_path = apex_path
     self.key_passwords = key_passwords
     self.codename_to_api_level_map = codename_to_api_level_map
+    self.debugfs_path = os.path.join(
+        OPTIONS.search_path, "bin", "debugfs_static")
 
   def ProcessApexFile(self, apk_keys, payload_key, signing_args=None):
     """Scans and signs the apk files and repack the apex
@@ -61,14 +63,13 @@
     Returns:
       The repacked apex file containing the signed apk files.
     """
-    debugfs_path = os.path.join(OPTIONS.search_path, "bin", "debugfs_static")
-    if not os.path.exists(debugfs_path):
+    if not os.path.exists(self.debugfs_path):
       raise ApexSigningError(
           "Couldn't find location of debugfs_static: " +
           "Path {} does not exist. ".format(debugfs_path) +
           "Make sure bin/debugfs_static can be found in -p <path>")
     list_cmd = ['deapexer', '--debugfs_path',
-                debugfs_path, 'list', self.apex_path]
+                self.debugfs_path, 'list', self.apex_path]
     entries_names = common.RunAndCheckOutput(list_cmd).split()
     apk_entries = [name for name in entries_names if name.endswith('.apk')]
 
@@ -98,8 +99,14 @@
 
   def ExtractApexPayloadAndSignApks(self, apk_entries, apk_keys):
     """Extracts the payload image and signs the containing apk files."""
+    if not os.path.exists(self.debugfs_path):
+      raise ApexSigningError(
+          "Couldn't find location of debugfs_static: " +
+          "Path {} does not exist. ".format(debugfs_path) +
+          "Make sure bin/debugfs_static can be found in -p <path>")
     payload_dir = common.MakeTempDir()
-    extract_cmd = ['deapexer', 'extract', self.apex_path, payload_dir]
+    extract_cmd = ['deapexer', '--debugfs_path',
+                   self.debugfs_path, 'extract', self.apex_path, payload_dir]
     common.RunAndCheckOutput(extract_cmd)
 
     has_signed_apk = False