diff --git a/core/Makefile b/core/Makefile
index a4825e1d5..2d49985f2 100644
--- a/core/Makefile
+++ b/core/Makefile
@@ -4170,8 +4170,9 @@ ifneq ($(BOARD_SUPER_PARTITION_GROUPS),)
 	    $(if $(_group_partition_list), \
 	        echo "$(group)_partition_list=$(_group_partition_list)" >> $(zip_root)/META/dynamic_partitions_info.txt;))
 endif # BOARD_SUPER_PARTITION_GROUPS
+	@# TODO(b/134525174): Remove `-r` after addressing the issue with recovery patch generation.
 	$(hide) PATH=$(foreach p,$(INTERNAL_USERIMAGES_BINARY_PATHS),$(p):)$$PATH MKBOOTIMG=$(MKBOOTIMG) \
-	    build/make/tools/releasetools/add_img_to_target_files -a -v -p $(HOST_OUT) $(zip_root)
+	    build/make/tools/releasetools/add_img_to_target_files -a -r -v -p $(HOST_OUT) $(zip_root)
 	@# Zip everything up, preserving symlinks and placing META/ files first to
 	@# help early validation of the .zip file while uploading it.
 	$(hide) find $(zip_root)/META | sort >$@.list
diff --git a/tools/releasetools/add_img_to_target_files.py b/tools/releasetools/add_img_to_target_files.py
index 4156c8b18..ebaa867bc 100755
--- a/tools/releasetools/add_img_to_target_files.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/add_img_to_target_files.py
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ Usage:  add_img_to_target_files [flag] target_files
 
   -r  (--rebuild_recovery)
       Rebuild the recovery patch and write it to the system image. Only
-      meaningful when system image needs to be rebuilt.
+      meaningful when system image needs to be rebuilt and there're separate
+      boot / recovery images.
 
   --replace_verity_private_key
       Replace the private key used for verity signing. (same as the option
@@ -164,7 +165,8 @@ def AddSystem(output_zip, recovery_img=None, boot_img=None):
       else:
         common.ZipWrite(output_zip, ofile.name, arc_name)
 
-  if OPTIONS.rebuild_recovery:
+  if (OPTIONS.rebuild_recovery and recovery_img is not None and
+      boot_img is not None):
     logger.info("Building new recovery patch")
     common.MakeRecoveryPatch(OPTIONS.input_tmp, output_sink, recovery_img,
                              boot_img, info_dict=OPTIONS.info_dict)