diff --git a/fastboot/device/flashing.cpp b/fastboot/device/flashing.cpp
index ee0aa58..9b5d2cd 100644
--- a/fastboot/device/flashing.cpp
+++ b/fastboot/device/flashing.cpp
@@ -187,11 +187,17 @@
                                  ", build may be missing broken or missing boot_devices");
     }
 
+    std::string slot_suffix = device->GetCurrentSlot();
+    uint32_t slot_number = SlotNumberForSlotSuffix(slot_suffix);
+
+    std::string other_slot_suffix;
+    if (!slot_suffix.empty()) {
+        other_slot_suffix = (slot_suffix == "_a") ? "_b" : "_a";
+    }
+
     // If we are unable to read the existing metadata, then the super partition
     // is corrupt. In this case we reflash the whole thing using the provided
     // image.
-    std::string slot_suffix = device->GetCurrentSlot();
-    uint32_t slot_number = SlotNumberForSlotSuffix(slot_suffix);
     std::unique_ptr<LpMetadata> old_metadata = ReadMetadata(super_name, slot_number);
     if (wipe || !old_metadata) {
         if (!FlashPartitionTable(super_name, *new_metadata.get())) {
@@ -203,11 +209,15 @@
     }
 
     std::set<std::string> partitions_to_keep;
+    bool virtual_ab = android::base::GetBoolProperty("ro.virtual_ab.enabled", false);
     for (const auto& partition : old_metadata->partitions) {
         // Preserve partitions in the other slot, but not the current slot.
         std::string partition_name = GetPartitionName(partition);
-        if (!slot_suffix.empty() && GetPartitionSlotSuffix(partition_name) == slot_suffix) {
-            continue;
+        if (!slot_suffix.empty()) {
+            auto part_suffix = GetPartitionSlotSuffix(partition_name);
+            if (part_suffix == slot_suffix || (part_suffix == other_slot_suffix && virtual_ab)) {
+                continue;
+            }
         }
         std::string group_name = GetPartitionGroupName(old_metadata->groups[partition.group_index]);
         // Skip partitions in the COW group
diff --git a/fs_mgr/fs_mgr_fstab.cpp b/fs_mgr/fs_mgr_fstab.cpp
index d0c89b9..f5ab557 100644
--- a/fs_mgr/fs_mgr_fstab.cpp
+++ b/fs_mgr/fs_mgr_fstab.cpp
@@ -413,17 +413,24 @@
     return fstab_result;
 }
 
-// Identify path to fstab file. Lookup is based on pattern
-// fstab.<fstab_suffix>, fstab.<hardware>, fstab.<hardware.platform> in
-// folders /odm/etc, vendor/etc, or /.
+// Return the path to the fstab file.  There may be multiple fstab files; the
+// one that is returned will be the first that exists of fstab.<fstab_suffix>,
+// fstab.<hardware>, and fstab.<hardware.platform>.  The fstab is searched for
+// in /odm/etc/ and /vendor/etc/, as well as in the locations where it may be in
+// the first stage ramdisk during early boot.  Previously, the first stage
+// ramdisk's copy of the fstab had to be located in the root directory, but now
+// the system/etc directory is supported too and is the preferred location.
 std::string GetFstabPath() {
     for (const char* prop : {"fstab_suffix", "hardware", "hardware.platform"}) {
         std::string suffix;
 
         if (!fs_mgr_get_boot_config(prop, &suffix)) continue;
 
-        for (const char* prefix :
-             {"/odm/etc/fstab.", "/vendor/etc/fstab.", "/fstab.", "/first_stage_ramdisk/fstab."}) {
+        for (const char* prefix : {// late-boot/post-boot locations
+                                   "/odm/etc/fstab.", "/vendor/etc/fstab.",
+                                   // early boot locations
+                                   "/system/etc/fstab.", "/first_stage_ramdisk/system/etc/fstab.",
+                                   "/fstab.", "/first_stage_ramdisk/fstab."}) {
             std::string fstab_path = prefix + suffix;
             if (access(fstab_path.c_str(), F_OK) == 0) {
                 return fstab_path;