diff --git a/aosp_taimen.mk b/aosp_taimen.mk
index ced8b52..35e547f 100644
--- a/aosp_taimen.mk
+++ b/aosp_taimen.mk
@@ -35,7 +35,11 @@
 
 PRODUCT_RESTRICT_VENDOR_FILES := owner
 
-PRODUCT_PACKAGES += com.android.vndk.current.on_vendor
+# Keep the VNDK APEX in /system partition for REL branches as these branches are
+# expected to have stable API/ABI surfaces.
+ifneq (REL,$(PLATFORM_VERSION_CODENAME))
+  PRODUCT_PACKAGES += com.android.vndk.current.on_vendor
+endif
 
 PRODUCT_MANUFACTURER := Google
 PRODUCT_BRAND := Android