diff --git a/java/app.go b/java/app.go
index a24099c..8a466e9 100644
--- a/java/app.go
+++ b/java/app.go
@@ -539,7 +539,11 @@
 	a.aapt.splitNames = a.appProperties.Package_splits
 	a.aapt.LoggingParent = String(a.overridableAppProperties.Logging_parent)
 	if a.Updatable() {
-		a.aapt.defaultManifestVersion = android.DefaultUpdatableModuleVersion
+		if override := ctx.Config().Getenv("OVERRIDE_APEX_MANIFEST_DEFAULT_VERSION"); override != "" {
+			a.aapt.defaultManifestVersion = override
+		} else {
+			a.aapt.defaultManifestVersion = android.DefaultUpdatableModuleVersion
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Use non final ids if we are doing optimized shrinking and are using R8.