diff --git a/tests/aidl/com/android/microdroid/testservice/ITestService.aidl b/tests/aidl/com/android/microdroid/testservice/ITestService.aidl
index cdcb2bd..208d61f 100644
--- a/tests/aidl/com/android/microdroid/testservice/ITestService.aidl
+++ b/tests/aidl/com/android/microdroid/testservice/ITestService.aidl
@@ -21,4 +21,7 @@
 
     /* add two integers. */
     int addInteger(int a, int b);
+
+    /* read a system property. */
+    String readProperty(String prop);
 }
diff --git a/tests/testapk/src/native/testbinary.cpp b/tests/testapk/src/native/testbinary.cpp
index f56b261..5435547 100644
--- a/tests/testapk/src/native/testbinary.cpp
+++ b/tests/testapk/src/native/testbinary.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <aidl/android/system/keystore2/IKeystoreService.h>
 #include <aidl/android/system/virtualmachineservice/IVirtualMachineService.h>
 #include <aidl/com/android/microdroid/testservice/BnTestService.h>
+#include <android-base/properties.h>
 #include <android-base/result.h>
 #include <android-base/unique_fd.h>
 #include <android/binder_auto_utils.h>
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 #include <binder_rpc_unstable.hpp>
+#include <string>
 
 using aidl::android::hardware::security::keymint::Algorithm;
 using aidl::android::hardware::security::keymint::Digest;
@@ -204,6 +206,17 @@
             *out = a + b;
             return ndk::ScopedAStatus::ok();
         }
+
+        ndk::ScopedAStatus readProperty(const std::string& prop, std::string* out) override {
+            *out = android::base::GetProperty(prop, "");
+            if (out->empty()) {
+                std::string msg = "cannot find property " + prop;
+                return ndk::ScopedAStatus::fromExceptionCodeWithMessage(EX_SERVICE_SPECIFIC,
+                                                                        msg.c_str());
+            }
+
+            return ndk::ScopedAStatus::ok();
+        }
     };
     auto testService = ndk::SharedRefBase::make<TestService>();