diff --git a/payload_consumer/delta_performer.cc b/payload_consumer/delta_performer.cc
index 68f38df..d8f0ef5 100644
--- a/payload_consumer/delta_performer.cc
+++ b/payload_consumer/delta_performer.cc
@@ -1579,9 +1579,12 @@
                                     });
 
   // The presence of an old partition hash is the sole indicator for a delta
-  // update.
+  // update. Also, always treat the partial update as delta so that we can
+  // perform the minor version check correctly.
   InstallPayloadType actual_payload_type =
-      has_old_fields ? InstallPayloadType::kDelta : InstallPayloadType::kFull;
+      (has_old_fields || manifest_.partial_update())
+          ? InstallPayloadType::kDelta
+          : InstallPayloadType::kFull;
 
   if (payload_->type == InstallPayloadType::kUnknown) {
     LOG(INFO) << "Detected a '"
diff --git a/payload_consumer/payload_constants.cc b/payload_consumer/payload_constants.cc
index 1c987bd..28404fe 100644
--- a/payload_consumer/payload_constants.cc
+++ b/payload_consumer/payload_constants.cc
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 const uint32_t kBrotliBsdiffMinorPayloadVersion = 4;
 const uint32_t kPuffdiffMinorPayloadVersion = 5;
 const uint32_t kVerityMinorPayloadVersion = 6;
+const uint32_t kPartialUpdateMinorPayloadVersion = 7;
 
 const uint32_t kMinSupportedMinorPayloadVersion = kSourceMinorPayloadVersion;
 const uint32_t kMaxSupportedMinorPayloadVersion = kVerityMinorPayloadVersion;
diff --git a/payload_consumer/payload_constants.h b/payload_consumer/payload_constants.h
index 5c2d17c..03647ee 100644
--- a/payload_consumer/payload_constants.h
+++ b/payload_consumer/payload_constants.h
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@
 // The minor version that allows Verity hash tree and FEC generation.
 extern const uint32_t kVerityMinorPayloadVersion;
 
+// The minor version that allows partial update, e.g. kernel only update.
+extern const uint32_t kPartialUpdateMinorPayloadVersion;
+
 // The minimum and maximum supported minor version.
 extern const uint32_t kMinSupportedMinorPayloadVersion;
 extern const uint32_t kMaxSupportedMinorPayloadVersion;