diff --git a/apex/apex.go b/apex/apex.go
index c6c10164d..0c127b281 100644
--- a/apex/apex.go
+++ b/apex/apex.go
@@ -165,9 +165,10 @@ type apexBundleProperties struct {
 	// Default is false.
 	Ignore_system_library_special_case *bool
 
-	// Whenever apex_payload.img of the APEX should include dm-verity hashtree. Should be only
-	// used in tests.
-	Test_only_no_hashtree *bool
+	// Whenever apex_payload.img of the APEX should include dm-verity hashtree.
+	// Default value is false.
+	// TODO(b/190621617): change default value to true.
+	Generate_hashtree *bool
 
 	// Whenever apex_payload.img of the APEX should not be dm-verity signed. Should be only
 	// used in tests.
@@ -1268,9 +1269,9 @@ func (a *apexBundle) installable() bool {
 	return !a.properties.PreventInstall && (a.properties.Installable == nil || proptools.Bool(a.properties.Installable))
 }
 
-// See the test_only_no_hashtree property
-func (a *apexBundle) testOnlyShouldSkipHashtreeGeneration() bool {
-	return proptools.Bool(a.properties.Test_only_no_hashtree)
+// See the generate_hashtree property
+func (a *apexBundle) shouldGenerateHashtree() bool {
+	return proptools.BoolDefault(a.properties.Generate_hashtree, false)
 }
 
 // See the test_only_unsigned_payload property
diff --git a/apex/builder.go b/apex/builder.go
index da8841ce7..d2e6ad8d5 100644
--- a/apex/builder.go
+++ b/apex/builder.go
@@ -629,11 +629,7 @@ func (a *apexBundle) buildUnflattenedApex(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
 			optFlags = append(optFlags, "--assets_dir "+filepath.Dir(a.mergedNotices.HtmlGzOutput.String()))
 		}
 
-		if ctx.ModuleDir() != "system/apex/apexd/apexd_testdata" && ctx.ModuleDir() != "system/apex/shim/build" && a.testOnlyShouldSkipHashtreeGeneration() {
-			ctx.PropertyErrorf("test_only_no_hashtree", "not available")
-			return
-		}
-		if (moduleMinSdkVersion.GreaterThan(android.SdkVersion_Android10) || a.testOnlyShouldSkipHashtreeGeneration()) && !compressionEnabled {
+		if (moduleMinSdkVersion.GreaterThan(android.SdkVersion_Android10) && !a.shouldGenerateHashtree()) && !compressionEnabled {
 			// Apexes which are supposed to be installed in builtin dirs(/system, etc)
 			// don't need hashtree for activation. Therefore, by removing hashtree from
 			// apex bundle (filesystem image in it, to be specific), we can save storage.