diff --git a/vndk/tools/definition-tool/vndk_definition_tool.py b/vndk/tools/definition-tool/vndk_definition_tool.py
index 4c7e98445..5d1e2ae4c 100755
--- a/vndk/tools/definition-tool/vndk_definition_tool.py
+++ b/vndk/tools/definition-tool/vndk_definition_tool.py
@@ -1566,6 +1566,28 @@ class LibProperties(object):
         return root + '-properties' + ext
 
 
+#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Public Libraries
+#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class PublicLibSet(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._lib_names = set()
+
+
+    def load_from_public_libraries_txt(self, config_path):
+        with open(config_path, 'r') as config_file:
+            for line in config_file:
+                line = line.strip()
+                if line and not line.startswith('#'):
+                    self._lib_names.add(line)
+
+
+    def is_public_lib(self, path):
+        lib_name = os.path.basename(path)
+        return lib_name in self._lib_names
+
+
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # ELF Linker
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -4126,8 +4148,19 @@ class CheckDepCommand(CheckDepCommandBase):
                            help='Do not check ordering of DT_NEEDED entries')
 
 
+    def _load_public_lib_names(self, system_dirs, vendor_dirs):
+        names = PublicLibSet()
+        for base in itertools.chain(system_dirs, vendor_dirs):
+            config_path = os.path.join(base, 'etc', 'public.libraries.txt')
+            try:
+                names.load_from_public_libraries_txt(config_path)
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                pass
+        return names
+
+
     def _check_vendor_dep(self, graph, tagged_libs, lib_properties,
-                          module_info):
+                          module_info, public_libs):
         """Check whether vendor libs are depending on non-eligible libs."""
         num_errors = 0
 
@@ -4137,6 +4170,17 @@ class CheckDepCommand(CheckDepCommandBase):
         eligible_libs = (tagged_libs.ll_ndk | tagged_libs.vndk_sp |
                          tagged_libs.vndk_sp_private | tagged_libs.vndk)
 
+        def _is_app_lib(lib):
+            app_dirs = [
+                '/product/app',
+                '/product/priv-app',
+                '/product_services/app',
+                '/product_services/priv-app',
+                '/vendor/app',
+                '/vendor/priv-app',
+            ]
+            return any(_is_under_dir(d, lib.path) for d in app_dirs)
+
         for lib in sorted(vendor_libs):
             bad_deps = set()
 
@@ -4154,6 +4198,12 @@ class CheckDepCommand(CheckDepCommandBase):
             # Check whether vendor modules depend on ineligible libs.
             for dep in lib.deps_all:
                 if dep not in vendor_libs and dep not in eligible_libs:
+                    if _is_app_lib(lib) and public_libs.is_public_lib(dep.path):
+                        # It is fine for APK files to depend on public
+                        # libraries (including NDK or other explicitly exposed
+                        # libs).
+                        continue
+
                     num_errors += 1
                     bad_deps.add(dep)
 
@@ -4256,8 +4306,10 @@ class CheckDepCommand(CheckDepCommandBase):
         lib_properties = \
             LibProperties.load_from_path_or_default(lib_properties_path)
 
+        public_libs = self._load_public_lib_names(args.system, args.vendor)
+
         num_errors = self._check_vendor_dep(graph, tagged_libs, lib_properties,
-                                            module_info)
+                                            module_info, public_libs)
 
         if args.check_dt_needed_ordering:
             num_errors += self._check_dt_needed_ordering(graph)