diff --git a/apex/apex.go b/apex/apex.go
index ff2e2d6..ad1d3b1 100644
--- a/apex/apex.go
+++ b/apex/apex.go
@@ -2294,26 +2294,6 @@
 	return false
 }
 
-func collectAconfigFiles(ctx android.ModuleContext, apexFiles []apexFile) android.Paths {
-	var aconfigFiles android.Paths
-	for _, file := range apexFiles {
-		if file.module == nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		if dep, ok := android.OtherModuleProvider(ctx, file.module, android.AconfigPropagatingProviderKey); ok {
-			if len(dep.AconfigFiles) > 0 && dep.AconfigFiles[ctx.ModuleName()] != nil {
-				aconfigFiles = append(aconfigFiles, dep.AconfigFiles[ctx.ModuleName()]...)
-			}
-		}
-
-		validationFlag := ctx.DeviceConfig().AconfigContainerValidation()
-		if validationFlag == "error" || validationFlag == "warning" {
-			android.VerifyAconfigBuildMode(ctx, ctx.ModuleName(), file.module, validationFlag == "error")
-		}
-	}
-	return android.FirstUniquePaths(aconfigFiles)
-}
-
 func (a *apexBundle) shouldCheckDuplicate(ctx android.ModuleContext) bool {
 	// TODO(b/263308293) remove this
 	if a.properties.IsCoverageVariant {
@@ -2395,13 +2375,16 @@
 	// 3) some fields in apexBundle struct are configured
 	a.installDir = android.PathForModuleInstall(ctx, "apex")
 	a.filesInfo = vctx.filesInfo
-	a.aconfigFiles = collectAconfigFiles(ctx, a.filesInfo)
 
 	a.setPayloadFsType(ctx)
 	a.setSystemLibLink(ctx)
 	a.compatSymlinks = makeCompatSymlinks(a.BaseModuleName(), ctx)
 
 	////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+	// 3.a) some artifacts are generated from the collected files
+	a.filesInfo = append(a.filesInfo, a.buildAconfigFiles(ctx)...)
+
+	////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 	// 4) generate the build rules to create the APEX. This is done in builder.go.
 	a.buildManifest(ctx, vctx.provideNativeLibs, vctx.requireNativeLibs)
 	a.buildApex(ctx)
diff --git a/apex/apex_test.go b/apex/apex_test.go
index 8305333..685cb37 100644
--- a/apex/apex_test.go
+++ b/apex/apex_test.go
@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@
 }
 
 func ensureMatches(t *testing.T, result string, expectedRex string) {
+	t.Helper()
 	ok, err := regexp.MatchString(expectedRex, result)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("regexp failure trying to match %s against `%s` expression: %s", result, expectedRex, err)
@@ -277,6 +278,14 @@
 	}
 }
 
+func ensureListContainsMatch(t *testing.T, result []string, expectedRex string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	p := regexp.MustCompile(expectedRex)
+	if android.IndexListPred(func(s string) bool { return p.MatchString(s) }, result) == -1 {
+		t.Errorf("%q is not found in %v", expectedRex, result)
+	}
+}
+
 func ensureListContains(t *testing.T, result []string, expected string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if !android.InList(expected, result) {
@@ -10791,14 +10800,14 @@
 	mod := ctx.ModuleForTests("myapex", "android_common_myapex")
 	s := mod.Rule("apexRule").Args["copy_commands"]
 	copyCmds := regexp.MustCompile(" *&& *").Split(s, -1)
-	if len(copyCmds) != 8 {
-		t.Fatalf("Expected 5 commands, got %d in:\n%s", len(copyCmds), s)
+	if len(copyCmds) != 12 {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected 12 commands, got %d in:\n%s", len(copyCmds), s)
 	}
 
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[4], "^cp -f .*/aconfig_flags.pb .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[5], "^cp -f .*/package.map .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[6], "^cp -f .*/flag.map .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[7], "^cp -f .*/flag.val .*/image.apex/etc$")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/aconfig_flags.pb .*/image.apex/etc/aconfig_flags.pb")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/package.map .*/image.apex/etc/package.map")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/flag.map .*/image.apex/etc/flag.map")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/flag.val .*/image.apex/etc/flag.val")
 
 	inputs := []string{
 		"my_aconfig_declarations_foo/intermediate.pb",
@@ -10926,14 +10935,14 @@
 	mod := ctx.ModuleForTests("myapex", "android_common_myapex")
 	s := mod.Rule("apexRule").Args["copy_commands"]
 	copyCmds := regexp.MustCompile(" *&& *").Split(s, -1)
-	if len(copyCmds) != 12 {
-		t.Fatalf("Expected 12 commands, got %d in:\n%s", len(copyCmds), s)
+	if len(copyCmds) != 16 {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected 16 commands, got %d in:\n%s", len(copyCmds), s)
 	}
 
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[8], "^cp -f .*/aconfig_flags.pb .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[9], "^cp -f .*/package.map .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[10], "^cp -f .*/flag.map .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[11], "^cp -f .*/flag.val .*/image.apex/etc$")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/aconfig_flags.pb .*/image.apex/etc/aconfig_flags.pb")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/package.map .*/image.apex/etc/package.map")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/flag.map .*/image.apex/etc/flag.map")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/flag.val .*/image.apex/etc/flag.val")
 
 	inputs := []string{
 		"my_aconfig_declarations_foo/intermediate.pb",
@@ -11094,14 +11103,14 @@
 	mod := ctx.ModuleForTests("myapex", "android_common_myapex")
 	s := mod.Rule("apexRule").Args["copy_commands"]
 	copyCmds := regexp.MustCompile(" *&& *").Split(s, -1)
-	if len(copyCmds) != 32 {
-		t.Fatalf("Expected 28 commands, got %d in:\n%s", len(copyCmds), s)
+	if len(copyCmds) != 36 {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected 36 commands, got %d in:\n%s", len(copyCmds), s)
 	}
 
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[28], "^cp -f .*/aconfig_flags.pb .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[29], "^cp -f .*/package.map .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[30], "^cp -f .*/flag.map .*/image.apex/etc$")
-	ensureMatches(t, copyCmds[31], "^cp -f .*/flag.val .*/image.apex/etc$")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/aconfig_flags.pb .*/image.apex/etc/aconfig_flags.pb")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/package.map .*/image.apex/etc/package.map")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/flag.map .*/image.apex/etc/flag.map")
+	ensureListContainsMatch(t, copyCmds, "^cp -f .*/flag.val .*/image.apex/etc/flag.val")
 
 	inputs := []string{
 		"my_aconfig_declarations_foo/intermediate.pb",
diff --git a/apex/builder.go b/apex/builder.go
index 0d08483..505ef8b 100644
--- a/apex/builder.go
+++ b/apex/builder.go
@@ -262,6 +262,58 @@
 	}, "tool_path", "unwanted")
 )
 
+func (a *apexBundle) buildAconfigFiles(ctx android.ModuleContext) []apexFile {
+	var aconfigFiles android.Paths
+	for _, file := range a.filesInfo {
+		if file.module == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if dep, ok := android.OtherModuleProvider(ctx, file.module, android.AconfigPropagatingProviderKey); ok {
+			if len(dep.AconfigFiles) > 0 && dep.AconfigFiles[ctx.ModuleName()] != nil {
+				aconfigFiles = append(aconfigFiles, dep.AconfigFiles[ctx.ModuleName()]...)
+			}
+		}
+
+		validationFlag := ctx.DeviceConfig().AconfigContainerValidation()
+		if validationFlag == "error" || validationFlag == "warning" {
+			android.VerifyAconfigBuildMode(ctx, ctx.ModuleName(), file.module, validationFlag == "error")
+		}
+	}
+	aconfigFiles = android.FirstUniquePaths(aconfigFiles)
+
+	var files []apexFile
+	if len(aconfigFiles) > 0 {
+		apexAconfigFile := android.PathForModuleOut(ctx, "aconfig_flags.pb")
+		ctx.Build(pctx, android.BuildParams{
+			Rule:        aconfig.AllDeclarationsRule,
+			Inputs:      aconfigFiles,
+			Output:      apexAconfigFile,
+			Description: "combine_aconfig_declarations",
+			Args: map[string]string{
+				"cache_files": android.JoinPathsWithPrefix(aconfigFiles, "--cache "),
+			},
+		})
+		files = append(files, newApexFile(ctx, apexAconfigFile, "aconfig_flags", "etc", etc, nil))
+
+		for _, info := range createStorageInfo {
+			outputFile := android.PathForModuleOut(ctx, info.Output_file)
+			ctx.Build(pctx, android.BuildParams{
+				Rule:        aconfig.CreateStorageRule,
+				Inputs:      aconfigFiles,
+				Output:      outputFile,
+				Description: info.Desc,
+				Args: map[string]string{
+					"container":   ctx.ModuleName(),
+					"file_type":   info.File_type,
+					"cache_files": android.JoinPathsWithPrefix(aconfigFiles, "--cache "),
+				},
+			})
+			files = append(files, newApexFile(ctx, outputFile, info.File_type, "etc", etc, nil))
+		}
+	}
+	return files
+}
+
 // buildManifest creates buile rules to modify the input apex_manifest.json to add information
 // gathered by the build system such as provided/required native libraries. Two output files having
 // different formats are generated. a.manifestJsonOut is JSON format for Q devices, and
@@ -644,48 +696,10 @@
 	outHostBinDir := ctx.Config().HostToolPath(ctx, "").String()
 	prebuiltSdkToolsBinDir := filepath.Join("prebuilts", "sdk", "tools", runtime.GOOS, "bin")
 
-	defaultReadOnlyFiles := []string{"apex_manifest.json", "apex_manifest.pb"}
-	aconfigDest := imageDir.Join(ctx, "etc").String()
-	if len(a.aconfigFiles) > 0 {
-		apexAconfigFile := android.PathForModuleOut(ctx, "aconfig_flags.pb")
-		ctx.Build(pctx, android.BuildParams{
-			Rule:        aconfig.AllDeclarationsRule,
-			Inputs:      a.aconfigFiles,
-			Output:      apexAconfigFile,
-			Description: "combine_aconfig_declarations",
-			Args: map[string]string{
-				"cache_files": android.JoinPathsWithPrefix(a.aconfigFiles, "--cache "),
-			},
-		})
-
-		copyCommands = append(copyCommands, "cp -f "+apexAconfigFile.String()+" "+aconfigDest)
-		implicitInputs = append(implicitInputs, apexAconfigFile)
-		defaultReadOnlyFiles = append(defaultReadOnlyFiles, "etc/"+apexAconfigFile.Base())
-
-		for _, info := range createStorageInfo {
-			outputFile := android.PathForModuleOut(ctx, info.Output_file)
-			ctx.Build(pctx, android.BuildParams{
-				Rule:        aconfig.CreateStorageRule,
-				Inputs:      a.aconfigFiles,
-				Output:      outputFile,
-				Description: info.Desc,
-				Args: map[string]string{
-					"container":   ctx.ModuleName(),
-					"file_type":   info.File_type,
-					"cache_files": android.JoinPathsWithPrefix(a.aconfigFiles, "--cache "),
-				},
-			})
-
-			copyCommands = append(copyCommands, "cp -f "+outputFile.String()+" "+aconfigDest)
-			implicitInputs = append(implicitInputs, outputFile)
-			defaultReadOnlyFiles = append(defaultReadOnlyFiles, "etc/"+outputFile.Base())
-		}
-	}
-
 	////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 	// Step 2: create canned_fs_config which encodes filemode,uid,gid of each files
 	// in this APEX. The file will be used by apexer in later steps.
-	cannedFsConfig := a.buildCannedFsConfig(ctx, defaultReadOnlyFiles)
+	cannedFsConfig := a.buildCannedFsConfig(ctx)
 	implicitInputs = append(implicitInputs, cannedFsConfig)
 
 	////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -1139,8 +1153,8 @@
 	a.lintReports = java.BuildModuleLintReportZips(ctx, depSetsBuilder.Build())
 }
 
-func (a *apexBundle) buildCannedFsConfig(ctx android.ModuleContext, defaultReadOnlyFiles []string) android.OutputPath {
-	var readOnlyPaths = defaultReadOnlyFiles
+func (a *apexBundle) buildCannedFsConfig(ctx android.ModuleContext) android.OutputPath {
+	var readOnlyPaths = []string{"apex_manifest.json", "apex_manifest.pb"}
 	var executablePaths []string // this also includes dirs
 	var appSetDirs []string
 	appSetFiles := make(map[string]android.Path)