diff --git a/apex/apex.go b/apex/apex.go
index a18e34bb2..5cd18ed28 100644
--- a/apex/apex.go
+++ b/apex/apex.go
@@ -168,6 +168,10 @@ type apexBundleProperties struct {
 	// used in tests.
 	Test_only_unsigned_payload *bool
 
+	// Whenever apex should be compressed, regardless of product flag used. Should be only
+	// used in tests.
+	Test_only_force_compression *bool
+
 	IsCoverageVariant bool `blueprint:"mutated"`
 
 	// List of sanitizer names that this APEX is enabled for
@@ -1241,6 +1245,11 @@ func (a *apexBundle) testOnlyShouldSkipPayloadSign() bool {
 	return proptools.Bool(a.properties.Test_only_unsigned_payload)
 }
 
+// See the test_only_force_compression property
+func (a *apexBundle) testOnlyShouldForceCompression() bool {
+	return proptools.Bool(a.properties.Test_only_force_compression)
+}
+
 // These functions are interfacing with cc/sanitizer.go. The entire APEX (along with all of its
 // members) can be sanitized, either forcibly, or by the global configuration. For some of the
 // sanitizers, extra dependencies can be forcibly added as well.
diff --git a/apex/builder.go b/apex/builder.go
index 106302beb..bc1b56600 100644
--- a/apex/builder.go
+++ b/apex/builder.go
@@ -763,9 +763,13 @@ func (a *apexBundle) buildUnflattenedApex(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
 	})
 	a.outputFile = signedOutputFile
 
-	// Process APEX compression if enabled
+	// Process APEX compression if enabled or forced
+	if ctx.ModuleDir() != "system/apex/apexd/apexd_testdata" && a.testOnlyShouldForceCompression() {
+		ctx.PropertyErrorf("test_only_force_compression", "not available")
+		return
+	}
 	compressionEnabled := ctx.Config().CompressedApex() && proptools.BoolDefault(a.properties.Compressible, true)
-	if compressionEnabled && apexType == imageApex {
+	if apexType == imageApex && (compressionEnabled || a.testOnlyShouldForceCompression()) {
 		a.isCompressed = true
 		unsignedCompressedOutputFile := android.PathForModuleOut(ctx, a.Name()+".capex.unsigned")