diff --git a/core/jni/android_util_AssetManager.cpp b/core/jni/android_util_AssetManager.cpp
index 3d1d143..fc53a76 100644
--- a/core/jni/android_util_AssetManager.cpp
+++ b/core/jni/android_util_AssetManager.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 #define ATRACE_TAG ATRACE_TAG_RESOURCES
 #define LOG_TAG "asset"
 
+#include "android_runtime/android_util_AssetManager.h"
+
+#include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <linux/capability.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -31,7 +34,7 @@
 #include "android-base/logging.h"
 #include "android-base/properties.h"
 #include "android-base/stringprintf.h"
-#include "android_runtime/android_util_AssetManager.h"
+#include "android_content_res_ApkAssets.h"
 #include "android_runtime/AndroidRuntime.h"
 #include "android_util_Binder.h"
 #include "androidfw/Asset.h"
@@ -39,11 +42,9 @@
 #include "androidfw/AssetManager2.h"
 #include "androidfw/AttributeResolution.h"
 #include "androidfw/MutexGuard.h"
-#include <androidfw/ResourceTimer.h>
+#include "androidfw/ResourceTimer.h"
 #include "androidfw/ResourceTypes.h"
 #include "androidfw/ResourceUtils.h"
-
-#include "android_content_res_ApkAssets.h"
 #include "core_jni_helpers.h"
 #include "jni.h"
 #include "nativehelper/JNIPlatformHelp.h"
@@ -161,9 +162,30 @@
   return *AssetManagerForNdkAssetManager(reinterpret_cast<AAssetManager*>(ptr));
 }
 
+struct ScopedLockedAssetsOperation {
+  ScopedLockedAssetsOperation(Guarded<AssetManager2>& guarded_am)
+        : am_(guarded_am), op_(am_->StartOperation()) {}
+
+  AssetManager2& operator*() { return *am_; }
+
+  AssetManager2* operator->() { return am_.get(); }
+
+  AssetManager2* get() { return am_.get(); }
+
+  private:
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(ScopedLockedAssetsOperation);
+
+  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> am_;
+  AssetManager2::ScopedOperation op_;
+};
+
+ScopedLockedAssetsOperation LockAndStartAssetManager(jlong ptr) {
+  return ScopedLockedAssetsOperation(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+}
+
 static jobject NativeGetOverlayableMap(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr,
                                        jstring package_name) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   const ScopedUtfChars package_name_utf8(env, package_name);
   CHECK(package_name_utf8.c_str() != nullptr);
   const std::string std_package_name(package_name_utf8.c_str());
@@ -209,7 +231,7 @@
 
 static jstring NativeGetOverlayablesToString(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr,
                                              jstring package_name) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   const ScopedUtfChars package_name_utf8(env, package_name);
   CHECK(package_name_utf8.c_str() != nullptr);
   const std::string std_package_name(package_name_utf8.c_str());
@@ -320,7 +342,7 @@
     apk_assets.emplace_back(*scoped_assets);
   }
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   assetmanager->SetApkAssets(apk_assets, invalidate_caches);
 }
 
@@ -370,14 +392,14 @@
   configuration.screenLayout2 =
       static_cast<uint8_t>((screen_layout & kScreenLayoutRoundMask) >> kScreenLayoutRoundShift);
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   assetmanager->SetConfiguration(configuration);
 }
 
 static jobject NativeGetAssignedPackageIdentifiers(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr,
                                                    jboolean includeOverlays,
                                                    jboolean includeLoaders) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
 
   jobject sparse_array =
         env->NewObject(gSparseArrayOffsets.classObject, gSparseArrayOffsets.constructor);
@@ -407,7 +429,7 @@
 }
 
 static jboolean ContainsAllocatedTable(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   return assetmanager->ContainsAllocatedTable();
 }
 
@@ -418,7 +440,7 @@
     return nullptr;
   }
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   std::unique_ptr<AssetDir> asset_dir =
       assetmanager->OpenDir(path_utf8.c_str());
   if (asset_dir == nullptr) {
@@ -466,7 +488,7 @@
     return 0;
   }
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   std::unique_ptr<Asset> asset =
       assetmanager->Open(asset_path_utf8.c_str(), static_cast<Asset::AccessMode>(access_mode));
   if (!asset) {
@@ -486,7 +508,7 @@
 
   ATRACE_NAME(base::StringPrintf("AssetManager::OpenAssetFd(%s)", asset_path_utf8.c_str()).c_str());
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   std::unique_ptr<Asset> asset = assetmanager->Open(asset_path_utf8.c_str(), Asset::ACCESS_RANDOM);
   if (!asset) {
     jniThrowException(env, "java/io/FileNotFoundException", asset_path_utf8.c_str());
@@ -512,7 +534,7 @@
     return 0;
   }
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   std::unique_ptr<Asset> asset;
   if (cookie != kInvalidCookie) {
     asset = assetmanager->OpenNonAsset(asset_path_utf8.c_str(), cookie,
@@ -540,7 +562,7 @@
 
   ATRACE_NAME(base::StringPrintf("AssetManager::OpenNonAssetFd(%s)", asset_path_utf8.c_str()).c_str());
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   std::unique_ptr<Asset> asset;
   if (cookie != kInvalidCookie) {
     asset = assetmanager->OpenNonAsset(asset_path_utf8.c_str(), cookie, Asset::ACCESS_RANDOM);
@@ -566,7 +588,7 @@
 
   ATRACE_NAME(base::StringPrintf("AssetManager::OpenXmlAsset(%s)", asset_path_utf8.c_str()).c_str());
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   std::unique_ptr<Asset> asset;
   if (cookie != kInvalidCookie) {
     asset = assetmanager->OpenNonAsset(asset_path_utf8.c_str(), cookie, Asset::ACCESS_RANDOM);
@@ -614,7 +636,8 @@
   std::unique_ptr<Asset>
       asset(Asset::createFromFd(dup_fd.release(), nullptr, Asset::AccessMode::ACCESS_BUFFER));
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+
   ApkAssetsCookie cookie = JavaCookieToApkAssetsCookie(jcookie);
 
   const incfs::map_ptr<void> buffer = asset->getIncFsBuffer(true /* aligned */);
@@ -637,8 +660,9 @@
 static jint NativeGetResourceValue(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid,
                                    jshort density, jobject typed_value,
                                    jboolean resolve_references) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   ResourceTimer _timer(ResourceTimer::Counter::GetResourceValue);
+
   auto value = assetmanager->GetResource(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid), false /*may_be_bag*/,
                                          static_cast<uint16_t>(density));
   if (!value.has_value()) {
@@ -656,7 +680,8 @@
 
 static jint NativeGetResourceBagValue(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid,
                                       jint bag_entry_id, jobject typed_value) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+
   auto bag = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!bag.has_value()) {
     return ApkAssetsCookieToJavaCookie(kInvalidCookie);
@@ -683,7 +708,8 @@
 }
 
 static jintArray NativeGetStyleAttributes(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+
   auto bag_result = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!bag_result.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -704,7 +730,8 @@
 
 static jobjectArray NativeGetResourceStringArray(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr,
                                                  jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+
   auto bag_result = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!bag_result.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -725,8 +752,8 @@
     }
 
     if (attr_value.type == Res_value::TYPE_STRING) {
-      auto apk_assets_weak = assetmanager->GetApkAssets()[attr_value.cookie];
-      if (auto apk_assets = apk_assets_weak.promote()) {
+      const auto& apk_assets = assetmanager->GetApkAssets(attr_value.cookie);
+      if (apk_assets) {
           const ResStringPool* pool = apk_assets->GetLoadedArsc()->GetStringPool();
 
           jstring java_string;
@@ -762,7 +789,8 @@
 
 static jintArray NativeGetResourceStringArrayInfo(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr,
                                                   jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+
   auto bag_result = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!bag_result.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -800,7 +828,8 @@
 }
 
 static jintArray NativeGetResourceIntArray(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+
   auto bag_result = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!bag_result.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -835,21 +864,22 @@
 }
 
 static jint NativeGetResourceArraySize(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid) {
-    ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
-    auto bag = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
-    if (!bag.has_value()) {
-      return -1;
-    }
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+  auto bag = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
+  if (!bag.has_value()) {
+    return -1;
+  }
     return static_cast<jint>((*bag)->entry_count);
 }
 
 static jint NativeGetResourceArray(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid,
                                    jintArray out_data) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
-  auto bag_result = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
-  if (!bag_result.has_value()) {
+    auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+
+    auto bag_result = assetmanager->GetBag(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
+    if (!bag_result.has_value()) {
     return -1;
-  }
+    }
 
   const jsize out_data_length = env->GetArrayLength(out_data);
   if (env->ExceptionCheck()) {
@@ -896,7 +926,7 @@
 }
 
 static jint NativeGetParentThemeIdentifier(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   const auto parentThemeResId = assetmanager->GetParentThemeResourceId(resid);
   return parentThemeResId.value_or(0);
 }
@@ -923,7 +953,7 @@
     package = package_utf8.c_str();
   }
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   auto resid = assetmanager->GetResourceId(name_utf8.c_str(), type, package);
   if (!resid.has_value()) {
     return 0;
@@ -933,7 +963,7 @@
 }
 
 static jstring NativeGetResourceName(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   auto name = assetmanager->GetResourceName(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!name.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -944,7 +974,7 @@
 }
 
 static jstring NativeGetResourcePackageName(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   auto name = assetmanager->GetResourceName(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!name.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -957,7 +987,7 @@
 }
 
 static jstring NativeGetResourceTypeName(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   auto name = assetmanager->GetResourceName(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!name.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -972,7 +1002,7 @@
 }
 
 static jstring NativeGetResourceEntryName(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jint resid) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   auto name = assetmanager->GetResourceName(static_cast<uint32_t>(resid));
   if (!name.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -990,14 +1020,14 @@
                                                       jclass /*clazz*/,
                                                       jlong ptr,
                                                       jboolean enabled) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   assetmanager->SetResourceResolutionLoggingEnabled(enabled);
 }
 
 static jstring NativeGetLastResourceResolution(JNIEnv* env,
                                                jclass /*clazz*/,
                                                jlong ptr) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   std::string resolution = assetmanager->GetLastResourceResolution();
   if (resolution.empty()) {
     return nullptr;
@@ -1008,7 +1038,7 @@
 
 static jobjectArray NativeGetLocales(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*class*/, jlong ptr,
                                      jboolean exclude_system) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   std::set<std::string> locales =
       assetmanager->GetResourceLocales(exclude_system, true /*merge_equivalent_languages*/);
 
@@ -1046,7 +1076,7 @@
 }
 
 static jobjectArray GetSizeAndUiModeConfigurations(JNIEnv* env, jlong ptr) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   auto configurations = assetmanager->GetResourceConfigurations(true /*exclude_system*/,
                                                                 false /*exclude_mipmap*/);
   if (!configurations.has_value()) {
@@ -1080,12 +1110,10 @@
   return GetSizeAndUiModeConfigurations(env, ptr);
 }
 
-static jintArray NativeAttributeResolutionStack(
-    JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr,
-    jlong theme_ptr, jint xml_style_res,
-    jint def_style_attr, jint def_style_resid) {
-
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+static jintArray NativeAttributeResolutionStack(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr,
+                                                jlong theme_ptr, jint xml_style_res,
+                                                jint def_style_attr, jint def_style_resid) {
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   Theme* theme = reinterpret_cast<Theme*>(theme_ptr);
   CHECK(theme->GetAssetManager() == &(*assetmanager));
   (void) assetmanager;
@@ -1120,7 +1148,7 @@
 static void NativeApplyStyle(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jlong theme_ptr,
                              jint def_style_attr, jint def_style_resid, jlong xml_parser_ptr,
                              jintArray java_attrs, jlong out_values_ptr, jlong out_indices_ptr) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   Theme* theme = reinterpret_cast<Theme*>(theme_ptr);
   CHECK(theme->GetAssetManager() == &(*assetmanager));
   (void) assetmanager;
@@ -1195,7 +1223,7 @@
     }
   }
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   Theme* theme = reinterpret_cast<Theme*>(theme_ptr);
   CHECK(theme->GetAssetManager() == &(*assetmanager));
   (void) assetmanager;
@@ -1254,7 +1282,7 @@
     }
   }
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   ResourceTimer _timer(ResourceTimer::Counter::RetrieveAttributes);
   ResXMLParser* xml_parser = reinterpret_cast<ResXMLParser*>(xml_parser_ptr);
   auto result =
@@ -1272,7 +1300,7 @@
 }
 
 static jlong NativeThemeCreate(JNIEnv* /*env*/, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   return reinterpret_cast<jlong>(assetmanager->NewTheme().release());
 }
 
@@ -1287,7 +1315,7 @@
 static void NativeThemeApplyStyle(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jlong theme_ptr,
                                   jint resid, jboolean force) {
   // AssetManager is accessed via the theme, so grab an explicit lock here.
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   Theme* theme = reinterpret_cast<Theme*>(theme_ptr);
   CHECK(theme->GetAssetManager() == &(*assetmanager));
   (void) assetmanager;
@@ -1305,7 +1333,7 @@
                               jint style_count) {
   // Lock both the original asset manager of the theme and the new asset manager to be used for the
   // theme.
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
 
   uint32_t* style_id_args = nullptr;
   if (style_ids != nullptr) {
@@ -1348,25 +1376,23 @@
   Theme* dst_theme = reinterpret_cast<Theme*>(dst_theme_ptr);
   Theme* src_theme = reinterpret_cast<Theme*>(src_theme_ptr);
 
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> src_assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(src_asset_manager_ptr));
+  auto src_assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(src_asset_manager_ptr);
   CHECK(src_theme->GetAssetManager() == &(*src_assetmanager));
-  (void) src_assetmanager;
 
   if (dst_asset_manager_ptr != src_asset_manager_ptr) {
-    ScopedLock<AssetManager2> dst_assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(dst_asset_manager_ptr));
+    auto dst_assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(dst_asset_manager_ptr);
     CHECK(dst_theme->GetAssetManager() == &(*dst_assetmanager));
-    (void) dst_assetmanager;
-
     dst_theme->SetTo(*src_theme);
   } else {
-      dst_theme->SetTo(*src_theme);
+    dst_theme->SetTo(*src_theme);
   }
 }
 
 static jint NativeThemeGetAttributeValue(JNIEnv* env, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jlong theme_ptr,
                                          jint resid, jobject typed_value,
                                          jboolean resolve_references) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
+
   Theme* theme = reinterpret_cast<Theme*>(theme_ptr);
   CHECK(theme->GetAssetManager() == &(*assetmanager));
   (void) assetmanager;
@@ -1389,7 +1415,7 @@
 
 static void NativeThemeDump(JNIEnv* /*env*/, jclass /*clazz*/, jlong ptr, jlong theme_ptr,
                             jint priority, jstring tag, jstring prefix) {
-  ScopedLock<AssetManager2> assetmanager(AssetManagerFromLong(ptr));
+  auto assetmanager = LockAndStartAssetManager(ptr);
   Theme* theme = reinterpret_cast<Theme*>(theme_ptr);
   CHECK(theme->GetAssetManager() == &(*assetmanager));
   (void) assetmanager;
diff --git a/libs/androidfw/AssetManager2.cpp b/libs/androidfw/AssetManager2.cpp
index 3a7c91e..d33b592 100644
--- a/libs/androidfw/AssetManager2.cpp
+++ b/libs/androidfw/AssetManager2.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,15 @@
 }
 
 void AssetManager2::BuildDynamicRefTable(ApkAssetsList apk_assets) {
-  apk_assets_.assign(apk_assets.begin(), apk_assets.end());
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+
+  apk_assets_.resize(apk_assets.size());
+  for (size_t i = 0; i != apk_assets.size(); ++i) {
+    apk_assets_[i].first = apk_assets[i];
+    // Let's populate the locked assets right away as we're going to need them here later.
+    apk_assets_[i].second = apk_assets[i];
+  }
+
   package_groups_.clear();
   package_ids_.fill(0xff);
 
@@ -124,7 +132,7 @@
   // Overlay resources are not directly referenced by an application so their resource ids
   // can change throughout the application's lifetime. Assign overlay package ids last.
   std::vector<const ApkAssets*> sorted_apk_assets;
-  sorted_apk_assets.reserve(apk_assets_.size());
+  sorted_apk_assets.reserve(apk_assets.size());
   for (auto& asset : apk_assets) {
     sorted_apk_assets.push_back(asset.get());
   }
@@ -250,9 +258,10 @@
 void AssetManager2::DumpToLog() const {
   LOG(INFO) << base::StringPrintf("AssetManager2(this=%p)", this);
 
+  auto op = StartOperation();
   std::string list;
-  for (const auto& apk_assets : apk_assets_) {
-    auto assets = apk_assets.promote();
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < apk_assets_.size(); ++i) {
+    const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(i);
     base::StringAppendF(&list, "%s,", assets ? assets->GetDebugName().c_str() : "nullptr");
   }
   LOG(INFO) << "ApkAssets: " << list;
@@ -290,7 +299,8 @@
   if (cookie < 0 || static_cast<size_t>(cookie) >= apk_assets_.size()) {
     return nullptr;
   }
-  auto assets = apk_assets_[cookie].promote();
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+  const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(cookie);
   return assets ? assets->GetLoadedArsc()->GetStringPool() : nullptr;
 }
 
@@ -341,9 +351,10 @@
 
 bool AssetManager2::GetOverlayablesToString(android::StringPiece package_name,
                                             std::string* out) const {
+  auto op = StartOperation();
   uint8_t package_id = 0U;
-  for (const auto& apk_assets : apk_assets_) {
-    auto assets = apk_assets.promote();
+  for (size_t i = 0; i != apk_assets_.size(); ++i) {
+    const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(i);
     if (!assets) {
       continue;
     }
@@ -400,10 +411,14 @@
 }
 
 bool AssetManager2::ContainsAllocatedTable() const {
-  return std::find_if(apk_assets_.begin(), apk_assets_.end(), [](auto&& assets_weak) {
-           auto assets = assets_weak.promote();
-           return assets && assets->IsTableAllocated();
-         }) != apk_assets_.end();
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+  for (size_t i = 0; i != apk_assets_.size(); ++i) {
+    const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(i);
+    if (assets && assets->IsTableAllocated()) {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+  return false;
 }
 
 void AssetManager2::SetConfiguration(const ResTable_config& configuration) {
@@ -428,8 +443,9 @@
     }
 
     if (!found_system_package) {
+      auto op = StartOperation();
       for (const ConfiguredOverlay& overlay : package_group.overlays_) {
-        if (auto asset = apk_assets_[overlay.cookie].promote()) {
+        if (const auto& asset = GetApkAssets(overlay.cookie)) {
           non_system_overlays.insert(std::move(asset));
         }
       }
@@ -442,6 +458,8 @@
 base::expected<std::set<ResTable_config>, IOError> AssetManager2::GetResourceConfigurations(
     bool exclude_system, bool exclude_mipmap) const {
   ATRACE_NAME("AssetManager::GetResourceConfigurations");
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+
   const auto non_system_overlays =
       exclude_system ? GetNonSystemOverlays() : std::set<ApkAssetsPtr>();
 
@@ -455,7 +473,7 @@
         }
         if (!non_system_overlays.empty()) {
           // Exclude overlays that target only system resources.
-          auto apk_assets = apk_assets_[package_group.cookies_[i]].promote();
+          const auto& apk_assets = GetApkAssets(package_group.cookies_[i]);
           if (apk_assets && apk_assets->IsOverlay() &&
               non_system_overlays.find(apk_assets) == non_system_overlays.end()) {
             continue;
@@ -475,6 +493,8 @@
 std::set<std::string> AssetManager2::GetResourceLocales(bool exclude_system,
                                                         bool merge_equivalent_languages) const {
   ATRACE_NAME("AssetManager::GetResourceLocales");
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+
   std::set<std::string> locales;
   const auto non_system_overlays =
       exclude_system ? GetNonSystemOverlays() : std::set<ApkAssetsPtr>();
@@ -488,7 +508,7 @@
         }
         if (!non_system_overlays.empty()) {
           // Exclude overlays that target only system resources.
-          auto apk_assets = apk_assets_[package_group.cookies_[i]].promote();
+          const auto& apk_assets = GetApkAssets(package_group.cookies_[i]);
           if (apk_assets && apk_assets->IsOverlay() &&
               non_system_overlays.find(apk_assets) == non_system_overlays.end()) {
             continue;
@@ -516,13 +536,14 @@
 
 std::unique_ptr<AssetDir> AssetManager2::OpenDir(const std::string& dirname) const {
   ATRACE_NAME("AssetManager::OpenDir");
+  auto op = StartOperation();
 
   std::string full_path = "assets/" + dirname;
   auto files = util::make_unique<SortedVector<AssetDir::FileInfo>>();
 
   // Start from the back.
-  for (auto iter = apk_assets_.rbegin(); iter != apk_assets_.rend(); ++iter) {
-    auto apk_assets = iter->promote();
+  for (size_t i = apk_assets_.size(); i > 0; --i) {
+    const auto& apk_assets = GetApkAssets(i - 1);
     if (!apk_assets || apk_assets->IsOverlay()) {
       continue;
     }
@@ -551,8 +572,9 @@
 std::unique_ptr<Asset> AssetManager2::OpenNonAsset(const std::string& filename,
                                                    Asset::AccessMode mode,
                                                    ApkAssetsCookie* out_cookie) const {
-  for (int32_t i = apk_assets_.size() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
-    const auto assets = apk_assets_[i].promote();
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+  for (size_t i = apk_assets_.size(); i > 0; i--) {
+    const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(i - 1);
     // Prevent RRO from modifying assets and other entries accessed by file
     // path. Explicitly asking for a path in a given package (denoted by a
     // cookie) is still OK.
@@ -581,7 +603,8 @@
   if (cookie < 0 || static_cast<size_t>(cookie) >= apk_assets_.size()) {
     return {};
   }
-  auto assets = apk_assets_[cookie].promote();
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+  const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(cookie);
   return assets ? assets->GetAssetsProvider()->Open(filename, mode) : nullptr;
 }
 
@@ -595,6 +618,8 @@
     last_resolution_.resid = resid;
   }
 
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+
   // Might use this if density_override != 0.
   ResTable_config density_override_config;
 
@@ -631,7 +656,7 @@
 
   bool overlaid = false;
   if (!stop_at_first_match && !ignore_configuration) {
-    auto assets = apk_assets_[result->cookie].promote();
+    const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(result->cookie);
     if (!assets) {
       ALOGE("Found expired ApkAssets #%d for resource ID 0x%08x.", result->cookie, resid);
       return base::unexpected(std::nullopt);
@@ -873,13 +898,7 @@
 }
 
 void AssetManager2::ResetResourceResolution() const {
-  last_resolution_.cookie = kInvalidCookie;
-  last_resolution_.resid = 0;
-  last_resolution_.steps.clear();
-  last_resolution_.type_string_ref = StringPoolRef();
-  last_resolution_.entry_string_ref = StringPoolRef();
-  last_resolution_.best_config_name.clear();
-  last_resolution_.best_package_name.clear();
+  last_resolution_ = Resolution{};
 }
 
 void AssetManager2::SetResourceResolutionLoggingEnabled(bool enabled) {
@@ -901,8 +920,10 @@
     return {};
   }
 
+  auto op = StartOperation();
+
   const uint32_t resid = last_resolution_.resid;
-  auto assets = apk_assets_[cookie].promote();
+  const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(cookie);
   const auto package =
       assets ? assets->GetLoadedArsc()->GetPackageById(get_package_id(resid)) : nullptr;
 
@@ -934,7 +955,7 @@
     if (prefix == kStepStrings.end()) {
       continue;
     }
-    auto assets = apk_assets_[step.cookie].promote();
+    const auto& assets = GetApkAssets(step.cookie);
     log_stream << "\n\t" << prefix->second << ": " 
                << (assets ? assets->GetDebugName() : "<null>") << " #" << step.cookie;
     if (!step.config_name.isEmpty()) {
@@ -1466,6 +1487,37 @@
   }
 }
 
+AssetManager2::ScopedOperation AssetManager2::StartOperation() const {
+  ++number_of_running_scoped_operations_;
+  return ScopedOperation(*this);
+}
+
+void AssetManager2::FinishOperation() const {
+  if (number_of_running_scoped_operations_ < 1) {
+    ALOGW("Invalid FinishOperation() call when there's none happening");
+    return;
+  }
+  if (--number_of_running_scoped_operations_ == 0) {
+    for (auto&& [_, assets] : apk_assets_) {
+      assets.clear();
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+const AssetManager2::ApkAssetsPtr& AssetManager2::GetApkAssets(ApkAssetsCookie cookie) const {
+  DCHECK(number_of_running_scoped_operations_ > 0) << "Must have an operation running";
+
+  if (cookie < 0 || cookie >= apk_assets_.size()) {
+    static const ApkAssetsPtr empty{};
+    return empty;
+  }
+  auto& [wptr, res] = apk_assets_[cookie];
+  if (!res) {
+    res = wptr.promote();
+  }
+  return res;
+}
+
 Theme::Theme(AssetManager2* asset_manager) : asset_manager_(asset_manager) {
 }
 
@@ -1598,22 +1650,16 @@
     using SourceToDestinationRuntimePackageMap = std::unordered_map<int, int>;
     std::unordered_map<ApkAssetsCookie, SourceToDestinationRuntimePackageMap> src_asset_cookie_id_map;
 
-    // Determine which ApkAssets are loaded in both theme AssetManagers.
-    const auto& src_assets = source.asset_manager_->GetApkAssets();
-    const auto& dest_assets = asset_manager_->GetApkAssets();
-    std::vector<AssetManager2::ApkAssetsPtr> promoted_src_assets;
-    promoted_src_assets.reserve(src_assets.size());
-    for (const auto& src_asset : src_assets) {
-      promoted_src_assets.emplace_back(src_asset.promote());
-    }
+    auto op_src = source.asset_manager_->StartOperation();
+    auto op_dst = asset_manager_->StartOperation();
 
-    for (size_t j = 0; j < dest_assets.size(); j++) {
-      auto dest_asset = dest_assets[j].promote();
-      if (!dest_asset) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < source.asset_manager_->GetApkAssetsCount(); i++) {
+      const auto& src_asset = source.asset_manager_->GetApkAssets(i);
+      if (!src_asset) {
         continue;
       }
-      for (size_t i = 0; i < promoted_src_assets.size(); i++) {
-        const auto& src_asset = promoted_src_assets[i];
+      for (int j = 0; j < asset_manager_->GetApkAssetsCount(); j++) {
+        const auto& dest_asset = asset_manager_->GetApkAssets(j);
         if (src_asset != dest_asset) {
           // ResourcesManager caches and reuses ApkAssets when the same apk must be present in
           // multiple AssetManagers. Two ApkAssets point to the same version of the same resources
@@ -1739,4 +1785,11 @@
   }
 }
 
+AssetManager2::ScopedOperation::ScopedOperation(const AssetManager2& am) : am_(am) {
+}
+
+AssetManager2::ScopedOperation::~ScopedOperation() {
+  am_.FinishOperation();
+}
+
 }  // namespace android
diff --git a/libs/androidfw/include/androidfw/AssetManager2.h b/libs/androidfw/include/androidfw/AssetManager2.h
index e276cd2..fc391bc 100644
--- a/libs/androidfw/include/androidfw/AssetManager2.h
+++ b/libs/androidfw/include/androidfw/AssetManager2.h
@@ -102,9 +102,20 @@
 
   AssetManager2() = default;
   explicit AssetManager2(AssetManager2&& other) = default;
-
   AssetManager2(ApkAssetsList apk_assets, const ResTable_config& configuration);
 
+  struct ScopedOperation {
+    DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(ScopedOperation);
+    friend AssetManager2;
+    const AssetManager2& am_;
+    ScopedOperation(const AssetManager2& am);
+
+   public:
+    ~ScopedOperation();
+  };
+
+  [[nodiscard]] ScopedOperation StartOperation() const;
+
   // Sets/resets the underlying ApkAssets for this AssetManager. The ApkAssets
   // are not owned by the AssetManager, and must have a longer lifetime.
   //
@@ -114,8 +125,9 @@
   bool SetApkAssets(ApkAssetsList apk_assets, bool invalidate_caches = true);
   bool SetApkAssets(std::initializer_list<ApkAssetsPtr> apk_assets, bool invalidate_caches = true);
 
-  inline const std::vector<ApkAssetsWPtr>& GetApkAssets() const {
-    return apk_assets_;
+  const ApkAssetsPtr& GetApkAssets(ApkAssetsCookie cookie) const;
+  int GetApkAssetsCount() const {
+    return int(apk_assets_.size());
   }
 
   // Returns the string pool for the given asset cookie.
@@ -426,9 +438,16 @@
   base::expected<const ResolvedBag*, NullOrIOError> GetBag(
       uint32_t resid, std::vector<uint32_t>& child_resids) const;
 
+  // Finish an operation that was running with the current asset manager, and clean up the
+  // promoted apk assets when the last operation ends.
+  void FinishOperation() const;
+
   // The ordered list of ApkAssets to search. These are not owned by the AssetManager, and must
   // have a longer lifetime.
-  std::vector<ApkAssetsWPtr> apk_assets_;
+  // The second pair element is the promoted version of the assets, that is held for the duration
+  // of the currently running operation. FinishOperation() clears all promoted assets to make sure
+  // they can be released when the system needs that.
+  mutable std::vector<std::pair<ApkAssetsWPtr, ApkAssetsPtr>> apk_assets_;
 
   // DynamicRefTables for shared library package resolution.
   // These are ordered according to apk_assets_. The mappings may change depending on what is
@@ -455,6 +474,10 @@
   // Cached set of resolved resource values.
   mutable std::unordered_map<uint32_t, SelectedValue> cached_resolved_values_;
 
+  // Tracking the number of the started operations running with the current AssetManager.
+  // Finishing the last one clears all promoted apk assets.
+  mutable int number_of_running_scoped_operations_ = 0;
+
   // Whether or not to save resource resolution steps
   bool resource_resolution_logging_enabled_ = false;
 
diff --git a/libs/androidfw/tests/AssetManager2_test.cpp b/libs/androidfw/tests/AssetManager2_test.cpp
index 5a5bafdf..df3fa02 100644
--- a/libs/androidfw/tests/AssetManager2_test.cpp
+++ b/libs/androidfw/tests/AssetManager2_test.cpp
@@ -207,11 +207,11 @@
   AssetManager2 assetmanager;
   assetmanager.SetApkAssets({overlayable_assets_, overlay_assets_, lib_one_assets_});
 
-  auto apk_assets = assetmanager.GetApkAssets();
-  ASSERT_EQ(3, apk_assets.size());
-  ASSERT_EQ(overlayable_assets_, apk_assets[0].promote());
-  ASSERT_EQ(overlay_assets_, apk_assets[1].promote());
-  ASSERT_EQ(lib_one_assets_, apk_assets[2].promote());
+  ASSERT_EQ(3, assetmanager.GetApkAssetsCount());
+  auto op = assetmanager.StartOperation();
+  ASSERT_EQ(overlayable_assets_, assetmanager.GetApkAssets(0));
+  ASSERT_EQ(overlay_assets_, assetmanager.GetApkAssets(1));
+  ASSERT_EQ(lib_one_assets_, assetmanager.GetApkAssets(2));
 
   auto get_first_package_id = [&assetmanager](auto apkAssets) -> uint8_t {
     return assetmanager.GetAssignedPackageId(apkAssets->GetLoadedArsc()->GetPackages()[0].get());
@@ -834,4 +834,26 @@
             std::string::npos);
 }
 
+TEST_F(AssetManager2Test, GetApkAssets) {
+  AssetManager2 assetmanager;
+  assetmanager.SetApkAssets({overlayable_assets_, overlay_assets_, lib_one_assets_});
+
+  ASSERT_EQ(3, assetmanager.GetApkAssetsCount());
+  EXPECT_EQ(1, overlayable_assets_->getStrongCount());
+  EXPECT_EQ(1, overlay_assets_->getStrongCount());
+  EXPECT_EQ(1, lib_one_assets_->getStrongCount());
+
+  {
+    auto op = assetmanager.StartOperation();
+    ASSERT_EQ(overlayable_assets_, assetmanager.GetApkAssets(0));
+    ASSERT_EQ(overlay_assets_, assetmanager.GetApkAssets(1));
+    EXPECT_EQ(2, overlayable_assets_->getStrongCount());
+    EXPECT_EQ(2, overlay_assets_->getStrongCount());
+    EXPECT_EQ(1, lib_one_assets_->getStrongCount());
+  }
+  EXPECT_EQ(1, overlayable_assets_->getStrongCount());
+  EXPECT_EQ(1, overlay_assets_->getStrongCount());
+  EXPECT_EQ(1, lib_one_assets_->getStrongCount());
+}
+
 }  // namespace android
diff --git a/libs/androidfw/tests/Idmap_test.cpp b/libs/androidfw/tests/Idmap_test.cpp
index 568e041..60aa7d8 100644
--- a/libs/androidfw/tests/Idmap_test.cpp
+++ b/libs/androidfw/tests/Idmap_test.cpp
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@
 
 std::string GetStringFromApkAssets(const AssetManager2& asset_manager,
                                    const AssetManager2::SelectedValue& value) {
-  auto assets = asset_manager.GetApkAssets();
+  auto op = asset_manager.StartOperation();
   const ResStringPool* string_pool =
-      assets[value.cookie].promote()->GetLoadedArsc()->GetStringPool();
+      asset_manager.GetApkAssets(value.cookie)->GetLoadedArsc()->GetStringPool();
   return GetStringFromPool(string_pool, value.data);
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/aapt2/process/SymbolTable.cpp b/tools/aapt2/process/SymbolTable.cpp
index b75458a..d78baf9f 100644
--- a/tools/aapt2/process/SymbolTable.cpp
+++ b/tools/aapt2/process/SymbolTable.cpp
@@ -260,10 +260,11 @@
 static std::unique_ptr<SymbolTable::Symbol> LookupAttributeInTable(
     android::AssetManager2& am, ResourceId id) {
   using namespace android;
-  if (am.GetApkAssets().empty()) {
+  if (am.GetApkAssetsCount() == 0) {
     return {};
   }
 
+  auto op = am.StartOperation();
   auto bag_result = am.GetBag(id.id);
   if (!bag_result.has_value()) {
     return nullptr;