diff --git a/graphics/composer/2.1/utils/hal/include/composer-hal/2.1/Composer.h b/graphics/composer/2.1/utils/hal/include/composer-hal/2.1/Composer.h
index 62a163c..4b8c6bb 100644
--- a/graphics/composer/2.1/utils/hal/include/composer-hal/2.1/Composer.h
+++ b/graphics/composer/2.1/utils/hal/include/composer-hal/2.1/Composer.h
@@ -67,6 +67,14 @@
             }
         }
 
+        // we do not have HWC2_CAPABILITY_SKIP_VALIDATE defined in
+        // IComposer::Capability.  However, this is defined in hwcomposer2.h,
+        // so if the device returns it, add it manually to be returned to the
+        // client
+        if (mHal->hasCapability(HWC2_CAPABILITY_SKIP_VALIDATE)) {
+            caps.push_back(static_cast<IComposer::Capability>(HWC2_CAPABILITY_SKIP_VALIDATE));
+        }
+
         hidl_vec<IComposer::Capability> caps_reply;
         caps_reply.setToExternal(caps.data(), caps.size());
         hidl_cb(caps_reply);
diff --git a/graphics/composer/2.1/vts/functional/VtsHalGraphicsComposerV2_1TargetTest.cpp b/graphics/composer/2.1/vts/functional/VtsHalGraphicsComposerV2_1TargetTest.cpp
index 5d2f65d..9477ee6 100644
--- a/graphics/composer/2.1/vts/functional/VtsHalGraphicsComposerV2_1TargetTest.cpp
+++ b/graphics/composer/2.1/vts/functional/VtsHalGraphicsComposerV2_1TargetTest.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <composer-vts/2.1/ComposerVts.h>
 #include <composer-vts/2.1/GraphicsComposerCallback.h>
 #include <composer-vts/2.1/TestCommandReader.h>
+#include <hardware/hwcomposer2.h>
 #include <mapper-vts/2.0/MapperVts.h>
 #include <mapper-vts/3.0/MapperVts.h>
 #include <mapper-vts/4.0/MapperVts.h>
@@ -789,6 +790,12 @@
  * surface damage have been set
  */
 TEST_F(GraphicsComposerHidlCommandTest, PRESENT_DISPLAY_NO_LAYER_STATE_CHANGES) {
+    if (!mComposer->hasCapability(
+                static_cast<IComposer::Capability>(HWC2_CAPABILITY_SKIP_VALIDATE))) {
+        std::cout << "Device does not have skip validate capability, skipping" << std::endl;
+        GTEST_SUCCEED();
+        return;
+    }
     mWriter->selectDisplay(mPrimaryDisplay);
     mComposerClient->setPowerMode(mPrimaryDisplay, IComposerClient::PowerMode::ON);
     mComposerClient->setColorMode(mPrimaryDisplay, ColorMode::NATIVE);