diff --git a/core/Makefile b/core/Makefile
index 5f6223486..8ca00ed82 100644
--- a/core/Makefile
+++ b/core/Makefile
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ $(APKCERTS_FILE):
 	  $(if $(PACKAGES.$(p).APKCERTS_FILE),\
 	    $(call _apkcerts_merge,$(PACKAGES.$(p).APKCERTS_FILE), $@),\
 	    $(if $(PACKAGES.$(p).EXTERNAL_KEY),\
-	      $(call _apkcerts_write_line,$(PACKAGES.$(p).STEM),"EXTERNAL","",$(PACKAGES.$(p).COMPRESSED),$(PACKAGES.$(p).PARTITION),$@),\
+	      $(call _apkcerts_write_line,$(PACKAGES.$(p).STEM),EXTERNAL,,$(PACKAGES.$(p).COMPRESSED),$(PACKAGES.$(p).PARTITION),$@),\
 	      $(call _apkcerts_write_line,$(PACKAGES.$(p).STEM),$(PACKAGES.$(p).CERTIFICATE),$(PACKAGES.$(p).PRIVATE_KEY),$(PACKAGES.$(p).COMPRESSED),$(PACKAGES.$(p).PARTITION),$@))))
 	# In case value of PACKAGES is empty.
 	$(hide) touch $@