diff --git a/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py b/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
index 9e27d29b7..ae9b79326 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class ApexApkSigner(object):
     self.key_passwords = key_passwords
     self.codename_to_api_level_map = codename_to_api_level_map
 
-  def ProcessApexFile(self, apk_keys, payload_key):
+  def ProcessApexFile(self, apk_keys, payload_key, signing_args=None):
     """Scans and signs the apk files and repack the apex
 
     Args:
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class ApexApkSigner(object):
       logger.info('No apk file has been signed in %s', self.apex_path)
       return self.apex_path
 
-    return self.RepackApexPayload(payload_dir, payload_key)
+    return self.RepackApexPayload(payload_dir, payload_key, signing_args)
 
   def ExtractApexPayloadAndSignApks(self, apk_entries, apk_keys):
     """Extracts the payload image and signs the containing apk files."""
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class ApexApkSigner(object):
       has_signed_apk = True
     return payload_dir, has_signed_apk
 
-  def RepackApexPayload(self, payload_dir, payload_key):
+  def RepackApexPayload(self, payload_dir, payload_key, signing_args=None):
     """Rebuilds the apex file with the updated payload directory."""
     apex_dir = common.MakeTempDir()
     # Extract the apex file and reuse its meta files as repack parameters.
@@ -145,6 +145,12 @@ class ApexApkSigner(object):
                           os.getenv('PATH')]
     for key, val in arguments_dict.items():
       generate_image_cmd.extend(['--' + key, val])
+
+    # Add quote to the signing_args as we will pass
+    # --signing_args "--signing_helper_with_files=%path" to apexer
+    if signing_args:
+      generate_image_cmd.extend(['--signing_args', '"{}"'.format(signing_args)])
+
     # optional arguments for apex repacking
     manifest_json = os.path.join(apex_dir, 'apex_manifest.json')
     if os.path.exists(manifest_json):
@@ -303,7 +309,7 @@ def SignApex(avbtool, apex_data, payload_key, container_key, container_pw,
   # the apex file after signing.
   apk_signer = ApexApkSigner(apex_file, container_pw,
                              codename_to_api_level_map)
-  apex_file = apk_signer.ProcessApexFile(apk_keys, payload_key)
+  apex_file = apk_signer.ProcessApexFile(apk_keys, payload_key, signing_args)
 
   # 2a. Extract and sign the APEX_PAYLOAD_IMAGE entry with the given
   # payload_key.