diff --git a/core/clear_vars.mk b/core/clear_vars.mk
index 5c1a58d67..140783eb6 100644
--- a/core/clear_vars.mk
+++ b/core/clear_vars.mk
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ LOCAL_LINT_FLAGS:=
 LOCAL_SOURCE_FILES_ALL_GENERATED:= # '',true
 # Don't delete the META_INF dir when merging static Java libraries.
 LOCAL_DONT_DELETE_JAR_META_INF:=
+LOCAL_DONT_DELETE_JAR_DIRS:=
 LOCAL_ADDITIONAL_CERTIFICATES:=
 LOCAL_PREBUILT_MODULE_FILE:=
 LOCAL_POST_LINK_CMD:=
diff --git a/core/definitions.mk b/core/definitions.mk
index e276887e9..37f7d9d50 100644
--- a/core/definitions.mk
+++ b/core/definitions.mk
@@ -1785,7 +1785,9 @@ endef
 define initialize-package-file
 @mkdir -p $(dir $(2))
 $(hide) cp -f $(1) $(2)
-$(hide) zip -qd $(2) "*.class" "*/" || true # Ignore the error when nothing to delete.
+$(hide) zip -qd $(2) "*.class" \
+    $(if $(strip $(PRIVATE_DONT_DELETE_JAR_DIRS)),,"*/") \
+    || true # Ignore the error when nothing to delete.
 endef
 
 #TODO: we kinda want to build different asset packages for
diff --git a/core/host_dalvik_java_library.mk b/core/host_dalvik_java_library.mk
index e946b24db..f8264ee26 100644
--- a/core/host_dalvik_java_library.mk
+++ b/core/host_dalvik_java_library.mk
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ $(built_dex): $(full_classes_jar) $(DX)
 
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): PRIVATE_DEX_FILE := $(built_dex)
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): PRIVATE_SOURCE_ARCHIVE := $(full_classes_jarjar_jar)
+$(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): PRIVATE_DONT_DELETE_JAR_DIRS := $(LOCAL_DONT_DELETE_JAR_DIRS)
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): $(built_dex) $(java_resource_sources)
 	@echo "Host Jar: $(PRIVATE_MODULE) ($@)"
 	$(call initialize-package-file,$(PRIVATE_SOURCE_ARCHIVE),$@)
diff --git a/core/java_library.mk b/core/java_library.mk
index 61dfef033..b4e3eaae5 100644
--- a/core/java_library.mk
+++ b/core/java_library.mk
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ else # !LOCAL_IS_STATIC_JAVA_LIBRARY
 
 $(common_javalib.jar): PRIVATE_DEX_FILE := $(built_dex)
 $(common_javalib.jar): PRIVATE_SOURCE_ARCHIVE := $(full_classes_jarjar_jar)
+$(common_javalib.jar): PRIVATE_DONT_DELETE_JAR_DIRS := $(LOCAL_DONT_DELETE_JAR_DIRS)
 $(common_javalib.jar) : $(built_dex) $(java_resource_sources)
 	@echo "target Jar: $(PRIVATE_MODULE) ($@)"
 	$(call initialize-package-file,$(PRIVATE_SOURCE_ARCHIVE),$@)
diff --git a/core/package_internal.mk b/core/package_internal.mk
index e16c68f23..2fadc95b2 100644
--- a/core/package_internal.mk
+++ b/core/package_internal.mk
@@ -384,6 +384,7 @@ else
     $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): PRIVATE_PRODUCT_AAPT_PREF_CONFIG := $(PRODUCT_AAPT_PREF_CONFIG)
 endif
 endif
+$(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): PRIVATE_DONT_DELETE_JAR_DIRS := $(LOCAL_DONT_DELETE_JAR_DIRS)
 $(LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE): $(all_res_assets) $(jni_shared_libraries) $(full_android_manifest)
 	@echo "target Package: $(PRIVATE_MODULE) ($@)"
 	$(if $(PRIVATE_SOURCE_ARCHIVE),\