diff --git a/cc/installer.go b/cc/installer.go
index e551c63..f95b493 100644
--- a/cc/installer.go
+++ b/cc/installer.go
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 type InstallerProperties struct {
 	// install to a subdirectory of the default install path for the module
 	Relative_install_path *string `android:"arch_variant"`
+
+	// Install output directly in {partition}/, not in any subdir.  This is only intended for use by
+	// init_first_stage.
+	Install_in_root *bool `android:"arch_variant"`
 }
 
 type installLocation int
@@ -66,6 +70,11 @@
 	if ctx.toolchain().Is64Bit() && installer.dir64 != "" {
 		dir = installer.dir64
 	}
+
+	if installer.installInRoot() {
+		dir = ""
+	}
+
 	if ctx.Target().NativeBridge == android.NativeBridgeEnabled {
 		dir = filepath.Join(dir, ctx.Target().NativeBridgeRelativePath)
 	} else if !ctx.Host() && ctx.Config().HasMultilibConflict(ctx.Arch().ArchType) {
@@ -110,3 +119,7 @@
 func (installer *baseInstaller) makeUninstallable(mod *Module) {
 	mod.ModuleBase.MakeUninstallable()
 }
+
+func (installer *baseInstaller) installInRoot() bool {
+	return Bool(installer.Properties.Install_in_root)
+}