diff --git a/init/README.md b/init/README.md
index 5fced19..11c4e1c 100644
--- a/init/README.md
+++ b/init/README.md
@@ -674,11 +674,12 @@
   _options_ include "barrier=1", "noauto\_da\_alloc", "discard", ... as
   a comma separated string, e.g. barrier=1,noauto\_da\_alloc
 
-`perform_apex_config`
+`perform_apex_config [--bootstrap]`
 > Performs tasks after APEXes are mounted. For example, creates data directories
   for the mounted APEXes, parses config file(s) from them, and updates linker
   configurations. Intended to be used only once when apexd notifies the mount
   event by setting `apexd.status` to ready.
+  Use --bootstrap when invoking in the bootstrap mount namespace.
 
 `restart [--only-if-running] <service>`
 > Stops and restarts a running service, does nothing if the service is currently
diff --git a/init/builtins.cpp b/init/builtins.cpp
index fa5e36d..e40b831 100644
--- a/init/builtins.cpp
+++ b/init/builtins.cpp
@@ -1292,10 +1292,21 @@
 }
 
 static Result<void> do_perform_apex_config(const BuiltinArguments& args) {
-    auto create_dirs = create_apex_data_dirs();
-    if (!create_dirs.ok()) {
-        return create_dirs.error();
+    bool bootstrap = false;
+    if (args.size() == 2) {
+        if (args[1] != "--bootstrap") {
+            return Error() << "Unexpected argument: " << args[1];
+        }
+        bootstrap = true;
     }
+
+    if (!bootstrap) {
+        auto create_dirs = create_apex_data_dirs();
+        if (!create_dirs.ok()) {
+            return create_dirs.error();
+        }
+    }
+
     auto parse_configs = ParseApexConfigs(/*apex_name=*/"");
     if (!parse_configs.ok()) {
         return parse_configs.error();
@@ -1306,8 +1317,10 @@
         return update_linker_config.error();
     }
 
-    // Now start delayed services
-    ServiceList::GetInstance().MarkServicesUpdate();
+    if (!bootstrap) {
+        // Now start delayed services
+        ServiceList::GetInstance().MarkServicesUpdate();
+    }
     return {};
 }
 
@@ -1362,7 +1375,7 @@
         // mount and umount are run in the same context as mount_all for symmetry.
         {"mount_all",               {0,     kMax, {false,  do_mount_all}}},
         {"mount",                   {3,     kMax, {false,  do_mount}}},
-        {"perform_apex_config",     {0,     0,    {false,  do_perform_apex_config}}},
+        {"perform_apex_config",     {0,     1,    {false,  do_perform_apex_config}}},
         {"umount",                  {1,     1,    {false,  do_umount}}},
         {"umount_all",              {0,     1,    {false,  do_umount_all}}},
         {"update_linker_config",    {0,     0,    {false,  do_update_linker_config}}},