diff --git a/core/base_rules.mk b/core/base_rules.mk
index 0ee4e1257..cb6cadc7e 100644
--- a/core/base_rules.mk
+++ b/core/base_rules.mk
@@ -516,7 +516,11 @@ ifneq ($(LOCAL_INSTALLED_MODULE),$(my_default_test_module))
 $(LOCAL_INSTALLED_MODULE): PRIVATE_POST_INSTALL_CMD := $(LOCAL_POST_INSTALL_CMD)
 $(LOCAL_INSTALLED_MODULE): $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE)
 	@echo "Install: $@"
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_MODULE_MAKEFILE),$(SOONG_ANDROID_MK))
+	$(copy-file-or-link-to-new-target)
+else
 	$(copy-file-to-new-target)
+endif
 	$(PRIVATE_POST_INSTALL_CMD)
 endif
 
diff --git a/core/definitions.mk b/core/definitions.mk
index 2cf7a04ce..ace3ff883 100644
--- a/core/definitions.mk
+++ b/core/definitions.mk
@@ -2554,6 +2554,18 @@ $(hide) rm -f $@
 $(hide) cp $< $@
 endef
 
+# The same as copy-file-to-new-target, but preserve symlinks. Symlinks are
+# converted to absolute to not break.
+define copy-file-or-link-to-new-target
+@mkdir -p $(dir $@)
+$(hide) rm -f $@
+$(hide) if [ -h $< ]; then \
+  ln -s $$(realpath $<) $@; \
+else \
+  cp $< $@; \
+fi
+endef
+
 # Copy a prebuilt file to a target location.
 define transform-prebuilt-to-target
 @echo "$($(PRIVATE_PREFIX)DISPLAY) Prebuilt: $(PRIVATE_MODULE) ($@)"
@@ -2566,6 +2578,13 @@ define transform-prebuilt-to-target-strip-comments
 $(copy-file-to-target-strip-comments)
 endef
 
+# Copy a prebuilt file to a target location, but preserve symlinks rather than
+# dereference them.
+define copy-or-link-prebuilt-to-target
+@echo "$($(PRIVATE_PREFIX)DISPLAY) Prebuilt: $(PRIVATE_MODULE) ($@)"
+$(copy-file-or-link-to-new-target)
+endef
+
 # Copy a list of files/directories to target location, with sub dir structure preserved.
 # For example $(HOST_OUT_EXECUTABLES)/aapt -> $(staging)/bin/aapt .
 # $(1): the source list of files/directories.
diff --git a/core/soong_cc_prebuilt.mk b/core/soong_cc_prebuilt.mk
index c9b742a7b..a0315a542 100644
--- a/core/soong_cc_prebuilt.mk
+++ b/core/soong_cc_prebuilt.mk
@@ -142,8 +142,16 @@ ifeq ($(my_check_same_vndk_variants),true)
   $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): $(same_vndk_variants_stamp)
 endif
 
+# Use copy-or-link-prebuilt-to-target for host executables and shared libraries,
+# to preserve symlinks to the source trees. They can then run directly from the
+# prebuilt directories where the linker can load their dependencies using
+# relative RUNPATHs.
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): $(LOCAL_PREBUILT_MODULE_FILE)
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_IS_HOST_MODULE) $(if $(filter EXECUTABLES SHARED_LIBRARIES NATIVE_TESTS,$(LOCAL_MODULE_CLASS)),true,),true true)
+	$(copy-or-link-prebuilt-to-target)
+else
 	$(transform-prebuilt-to-target)
+endif
 ifneq ($(filter EXECUTABLES NATIVE_TESTS,$(LOCAL_MODULE_CLASS)),)
 	$(hide) chmod +x $@
 endif
diff --git a/core/soong_rust_prebuilt.mk b/core/soong_rust_prebuilt.mk
index 804e37edf..de6bafdc7 100644
--- a/core/soong_rust_prebuilt.mk
+++ b/core/soong_rust_prebuilt.mk
@@ -57,7 +57,11 @@ ifdef LOCAL_INSTALLED_MODULE
 endif
 
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): $(LOCAL_PREBUILT_MODULE_FILE)
+ifeq ($(LOCAL_IS_HOST_MODULE) $(if $(filter EXECUTABLES SHARED_LIBRARIES NATIVE_TESTS,$(LOCAL_MODULE_CLASS)),true,),true true)
+	$(copy-or-link-prebuilt-to-target)
+else
 	$(transform-prebuilt-to-target)
+endif
 ifneq ($(filter EXECUTABLES NATIVE_TESTS,$(LOCAL_MODULE_CLASS)),)
 	$(hide) chmod +x $@
 endif