diff --git a/apex/apex.go b/apex/apex.go
index e0ee1ea..6fd0b90 100644
--- a/apex/apex.go
+++ b/apex/apex.go
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@
 				android.UpdateApexDependency(apexBundleName, depName, directDep)
 			}
 
-			if am, ok := child.(android.ApexModule); ok && am.CanHaveApexVariants() {
+			if am, ok := child.(android.ApexModule); ok && am.CanHaveApexVariants() &&
+				(directDep || am.DepIsInSameApex(mctx, child)) {
 				am.BuildForApex(apexBundleName)
 				return true
 			} else {