diff --git a/android/module.go b/android/module.go
index fa6388c..9e16e50 100644
--- a/android/module.go
+++ b/android/module.go
@@ -431,6 +431,9 @@
 	DebugName       string   `blueprint:"mutated"`
 	DebugMutators   []string `blueprint:"mutated"`
 	DebugVariations []string `blueprint:"mutated"`
+
+	// set by ImageMutator
+	ImageVariation string `blueprint:"mutated"`
 }
 
 type hostAndDeviceProperties struct {
@@ -865,6 +868,21 @@
 	return m.noticeFile
 }
 
+func (m *ModuleBase) setImageVariation(variant string) {
+	m.commonProperties.ImageVariation = variant
+}
+
+func (m *ModuleBase) ImageVariation() blueprint.Variation {
+	return blueprint.Variation{
+		Mutator:   "image",
+		Variation: m.base().commonProperties.ImageVariation,
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *ModuleBase) InRecovery() bool {
+	return m.base().commonProperties.ImageVariation == RecoveryVariation
+}
+
 func (m *ModuleBase) generateModuleTarget(ctx ModuleContext) {
 	allInstalledFiles := Paths{}
 	allCheckbuildFiles := Paths{}