diff --git a/java/aar.go b/java/aar.go
index f5d7e97..6a883d3 100644
--- a/java/aar.go
+++ b/java/aar.go
@@ -220,14 +220,13 @@
 	manifestPath := manifestFixer(ctx, manifestSrcPath, sdkContext, sdkLibraries,
 		a.isLibrary, a.useEmbeddedNativeLibs, a.usesNonSdkApis, a.useEmbeddedDex, a.hasNoCode)
 
-	a.transitiveManifestPaths = append(android.Paths{manifestPath}, transitiveStaticLibManifests...)
+	// Add additional manifest files to transitive manifests.
+	additionalManifests := android.PathsForModuleSrc(ctx, a.aaptProperties.Additional_manifests)
+	a.transitiveManifestPaths = append(android.Paths{manifestPath}, additionalManifests...)
+	a.transitiveManifestPaths = append(a.transitiveManifestPaths, transitiveStaticLibManifests...)
 
-	if len(transitiveStaticLibManifests) > 0 {
-		// Merge additional manifest files with app manifest.
-		additionalManifests := android.PathsForModuleSrc(ctx, a.aaptProperties.Additional_manifests)
-		additionalManifests = append(additionalManifests, transitiveStaticLibManifests...)
-
-		a.mergedManifestFile = manifestMerger(ctx, manifestPath, additionalManifests, a.isLibrary)
+	if len(a.transitiveManifestPaths) > 1 {
+		a.mergedManifestFile = manifestMerger(ctx, a.transitiveManifestPaths[0], a.transitiveManifestPaths[1:], a.isLibrary)
 		if !a.isLibrary {
 			// Only use the merged manifest for applications.  For libraries, the transitive closure of manifests
 			// will be propagated to the final application and merged there.  The merged manifest for libraries is