diff --git a/dynamic_partition_control_android.cc b/dynamic_partition_control_android.cc
index ba749d9..aa0f393 100644
--- a/dynamic_partition_control_android.cc
+++ b/dynamic_partition_control_android.cc
@@ -434,17 +434,17 @@
     return false;
   }
 
+  if (!SetTargetBuildVars(manifest)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
   // Although the current build supports dynamic partitions, the given payload
   // doesn't use it for target partitions. This could happen when applying a
   // retrofit update. Skip updating the partition metadata for the target slot.
-  is_target_dynamic_ = !manifest.dynamic_partition_metadata().groups().empty();
   if (!is_target_dynamic_) {
     return true;
   }
 
-  target_supports_snapshot_ =
-      manifest.dynamic_partition_metadata().snapshot_enabled();
-
   if (!update)
     return true;
 
@@ -505,6 +505,52 @@
   return true;
 }
 
+bool DynamicPartitionControlAndroid::SetTargetBuildVars(
+    const DeltaArchiveManifest& manifest) {
+  // Precondition: current build supports dynamic partition.
+  CHECK(GetDynamicPartitionsFeatureFlag().IsEnabled());
+
+  bool is_target_dynamic =
+      !manifest.dynamic_partition_metadata().groups().empty();
+  bool target_supports_snapshot =
+      manifest.dynamic_partition_metadata().snapshot_enabled();
+
+  if (manifest.partial_update()) {
+    // Partial updates requires DAP. On partial updates that does not involve
+    // dynamic partitions, groups() can be empty, so also assume
+    // is_target_dynamic in this case. This assumption should be safe because we
+    // also check target_supports_snapshot below, which presumably also implies
+    // target build supports dynamic partition.
+    if (!is_target_dynamic) {
+      LOG(INFO) << "Assuming target build supports dynamic partitions for "
+                   "partial updates.";
+      is_target_dynamic = true;
+    }
+
+    // Partial updates requires Virtual A/B. Double check that both current
+    // build and target build supports Virtual A/B.
+    if (!GetVirtualAbFeatureFlag().IsEnabled()) {
+      LOG(ERROR) << "Partial update cannot be applied on a device that does "
+                    "not support snapshots.";
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (!target_supports_snapshot) {
+      LOG(ERROR) << "Cannot apply partial update to a build that does not "
+                    "support snapshots.";
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Store the flags.
+  is_target_dynamic_ = is_target_dynamic;
+  // If !is_target_dynamic_, leave target_supports_snapshot_ unset because
+  // snapshots would not work without dynamic partition.
+  if (is_target_dynamic_) {
+    target_supports_snapshot_ = target_supports_snapshot;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
 namespace {
 // Try our best to erase AVB footer.
 class AvbFooterEraser {
diff --git a/dynamic_partition_control_android.h b/dynamic_partition_control_android.h
index 08656fd..9ee85db 100644
--- a/dynamic_partition_control_android.h
+++ b/dynamic_partition_control_android.h
@@ -267,6 +267,10 @@
   // doing anything.
   bool EnsureMetadataMounted();
 
+  // Set boolean flags related to target build. This includes flags like
+  // target_supports_snapshot_ and is_target_dynamic_.
+  bool SetTargetBuildVars(const DeltaArchiveManifest& manifest);
+
   std::set<std::string> mapped_devices_;
   const FeatureFlag dynamic_partitions_;
   const FeatureFlag virtual_ab_;