diff --git a/init/first_stage_mount.cpp b/init/first_stage_mount.cpp
index 1b077bc..898e28e 100644
--- a/init/first_stage_mount.cpp
+++ b/init/first_stage_mount.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 using android::base::Split;
 using android::base::Timer;
 using android::fs_mgr::AvbHandle;
+using android::fs_mgr::AvbHandleStatus;
 using android::fs_mgr::AvbHashtreeResult;
 using android::fs_mgr::AvbUniquePtr;
 using android::fs_mgr::BuildGsiSystemFstabEntry;
@@ -737,8 +738,17 @@
         hashtree_result =
                 avb_handle_->SetUpAvbHashtree(fstab_entry, false /* wait_for_verity_dev */);
     } else if (!fstab_entry->avb_key.empty()) {
-        hashtree_result =
-                AvbHandle::SetUpStandaloneAvbHashtree(fstab_entry, false /* wait_for_verity_dev */);
+        if (!InitAvbHandle()) return false;
+        // Checks if hashtree should be disabled from the top-level /vbmeta.
+        if (avb_handle_->status() == AvbHandleStatus::kHashtreeDisabled ||
+            avb_handle_->status() == AvbHandleStatus::kVerificationDisabled) {
+            LOG(ERROR) << "Top-level vbmeta is disabled, skip Hashtree setup for "
+                       << fstab_entry->mount_point;
+            return true;  // Returns true to mount the partition directly.
+        } else {
+            hashtree_result = AvbHandle::SetUpStandaloneAvbHashtree(
+                    fstab_entry, false /* wait_for_verity_dev */);
+        }
     } else {
         return true;  // No need AVB, returns true to mount the partition directly.
     }
@@ -754,8 +764,6 @@
         default:
             return false;
     }
-
-    return true;  // Returns true to mount the partition.
 }
 
 bool FirstStageMountVBootV2::InitAvbHandle() {
diff --git a/libvndksupport/include/vndksupport/linker.h b/libvndksupport/include/vndksupport/linker.h
index f509564..5f48c39 100644
--- a/libvndksupport/include/vndksupport/linker.h
+++ b/libvndksupport/include/vndksupport/linker.h
@@ -20,6 +20,16 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * Returns whether the current process is a vendor process.
+ *
+ * Note that this is only checking what process is running and has nothing to
+ * do with what namespace the caller is loaded at.  For example, a VNDK-SP
+ * library loaded by SP-HAL calling this function may still get a 'false',
+ * because it is running in a system process.
+ */
+int android_is_in_vendor_process();
+
 void* android_load_sphal_library(const char* name, int flag);
 
 int android_unload_sphal_library(void* handle);
diff --git a/libvndksupport/libvndksupport.map.txt b/libvndksupport/libvndksupport.map.txt
index d3db10f..ac9a99c 100644
--- a/libvndksupport/libvndksupport.map.txt
+++ b/libvndksupport/libvndksupport.map.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 LIBVNDKSUPPORT {
   global:
+    android_is_in_vendor_process; # vndk apex
     android_load_sphal_library; # vndk apex
     android_unload_sphal_library; # vndk apex
   local:
diff --git a/libvndksupport/linker.c b/libvndksupport/linker.c
index bc5620b..821940a 100644
--- a/libvndksupport/linker.c
+++ b/libvndksupport/linker.c
@@ -45,6 +45,17 @@
     return vendor_namespace;
 }
 
+int android_is_in_vendor_process() {
+    if (android_get_exported_namespace == NULL) {
+        ALOGD("android_get_exported_namespace() not available. Assuming system process.");
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    // In vendor process, 'vndk' namespace is not visible, whereas in system
+    // process, it is.
+    return android_get_exported_namespace("vndk") == NULL;
+}
+
 void* android_load_sphal_library(const char* name, int flag) {
     struct android_namespace_t* vendor_namespace = get_vendor_namespace();
     if (vendor_namespace != NULL) {