diff --git a/android/apex.go b/android/apex.go
index 358818f..87bff74 100644
--- a/android/apex.go
+++ b/android/apex.go
@@ -845,7 +845,7 @@
 // ModuleWithMinSdkVersionCheck represents a module that implements min_sdk_version checks
 type ModuleWithMinSdkVersionCheck interface {
 	Module
-	MinSdkVersion(ctx EarlyModuleContext) SdkSpec
+	MinSdkVersion(ctx EarlyModuleContext) ApiLevel
 	CheckMinSdkVersion(ctx ModuleContext)
 }
 
diff --git a/android/api_levels.go b/android/api_levels.go
index e48a69e..0c0b2b4 100644
--- a/android/api_levels.go
+++ b/android/api_levels.go
@@ -185,6 +185,14 @@
 	return ret.String(), nil
 }
 
+// Specified returns true if the module is targeting a recognzized api_level.
+// It returns false if either
+// 1. min_sdk_version is not an int or a recognized codename
+// 2. both min_sdk_version and sdk_version are empty. In this case, MinSdkVersion() defaults to SdkSpecPrivate.ApiLevel
+func (this ApiLevel) Specified() bool {
+	return !this.IsInvalid() && !this.IsPrivate()
+}
+
 // Returns -1 if the current API level is less than the argument, 0 if they
 // are equal, and 1 if it is greater than the argument.
 func (this ApiLevel) CompareTo(other ApiLevel) int {
@@ -289,6 +297,16 @@
 	return strconv.Itoa(num)
 }
 
+// ApiLevelFrom converts the given string `raw` to an ApiLevel.
+// If `raw` is invalid (empty string, unrecognized codename etc.) it returns an invalid ApiLevel
+func ApiLevelFrom(ctx PathContext, raw string) ApiLevel {
+	ret, err := ApiLevelFromUser(ctx, raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewInvalidApiLevel(raw)
+	}
+	return ret
+}
+
 // ApiLevelFromUser converts the given string `raw` to an ApiLevel, possibly returning an error.
 //
 // `raw` must be non-empty. Passing an empty string results in a panic.
diff --git a/android/sdk.go b/android/sdk.go
index 8b23d63..63e0bbe 100644
--- a/android/sdk.go
+++ b/android/sdk.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 // minApiLevelForSdkSnapshot provides access to the min_sdk_version for MinApiLevelForSdkSnapshot
 type minApiLevelForSdkSnapshot interface {
-	MinSdkVersion(ctx EarlyModuleContext) SdkSpec
+	MinSdkVersion(ctx EarlyModuleContext) ApiLevel
 }
 
 // MinApiLevelForSdkSnapshot returns the ApiLevel of the min_sdk_version of the supplied module.
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 func MinApiLevelForSdkSnapshot(ctx EarlyModuleContext, module Module) ApiLevel {
 	minApiLevel := NoneApiLevel
 	if m, ok := module.(minApiLevelForSdkSnapshot); ok {
-		minApiLevel = m.MinSdkVersion(ctx).ApiLevel
+		minApiLevel = m.MinSdkVersion(ctx)
 	}
 	if minApiLevel == NoneApiLevel {
 		// The default min API level is 1.
diff --git a/android/sdk_version.go b/android/sdk_version.go
index f8ac44a..18b819a 100644
--- a/android/sdk_version.go
+++ b/android/sdk_version.go
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 	SdkVersion(ctx EarlyModuleContext) SdkSpec
 	// SystemModules returns the system_modules property of the current module, or an empty string if it is not set.
 	SystemModules() string
-	// MinSdkVersion returns SdkSpec that corresponds to the min_sdk_version property of the current module,
+	// MinSdkVersion returns ApiLevel that corresponds to the min_sdk_version property of the current module,
 	// or from sdk_version if it is not set.
-	MinSdkVersion(ctx EarlyModuleContext) SdkSpec
+	MinSdkVersion(ctx EarlyModuleContext) ApiLevel
 	// ReplaceMaxSdkVersionPlaceholder returns SdkSpec to replace the maxSdkVersion property of permission and
 	// uses-permission tags if it is set.
 	ReplaceMaxSdkVersionPlaceholder(ctx EarlyModuleContext) SdkSpec