diff --git a/python/python.go b/python/python.go
index 8364169..daf7c14 100644
--- a/python/python.go
+++ b/python/python.go
@@ -120,6 +120,15 @@
 	// whether the binary is required to be built with embedded launcher for this actual_version.
 	// this is set by the python version mutator based on version-specific properties
 	Embedded_launcher *bool `blueprint:"mutated"`
+
+	Proto struct {
+		// Whether generated python protos should include the pkg_path in
+		// their import statements. This is a temporary flag to help transition to
+		// the new behavior where this is always true. It will be removed after all
+		// usages of protos with pkg_path have been updated. The default is currently
+		// false.
+		Respect_pkg_path *bool
+	}
 }
 
 type baseAttributes struct {
@@ -672,8 +681,26 @@
 		protoFlags := android.GetProtoFlags(ctx, &p.protoProperties)
 		protoFlags.OutTypeFlag = "--python_out"
 
+		// TODO(b/247578564): Change the default to true, and then eventually remove respect_pkg_path
+		protosRespectPkgPath := proptools.BoolDefault(p.properties.Proto.Respect_pkg_path, false)
+		pkgPathForProtos := pkgPath
+		if pkgPathForProtos != "" && protosRespectPkgPath {
+			pkgPathStagingDir := android.PathForModuleGen(ctx, "protos_staged_for_pkg_path")
+			rule := android.NewRuleBuilder(pctx, ctx)
+			var stagedProtoSrcs android.Paths
+			for _, srcFile := range protoSrcs {
+				stagedProtoSrc := pkgPathStagingDir.Join(ctx, pkgPath, srcFile.Rel())
+				rule.Command().Text("mkdir -p").Flag(filepath.Base(stagedProtoSrc.String()))
+				rule.Command().Text("cp -f").Input(srcFile).Output(stagedProtoSrc)
+				stagedProtoSrcs = append(stagedProtoSrcs, stagedProtoSrc)
+			}
+			rule.Build("stage_protos_for_pkg_path", "Stage protos for pkg_path")
+			protoSrcs = stagedProtoSrcs
+			pkgPathForProtos = ""
+		}
+
 		for _, srcFile := range protoSrcs {
-			zip := genProto(ctx, srcFile, protoFlags, pkgPath)
+			zip := genProto(ctx, srcFile, protoFlags, pkgPathForProtos)
 			zips = append(zips, zip)
 		}
 	}