diff --git a/build_image b/build_image
index 7ecc67d220..61b654563e 100755
--- a/build_image
+++ b/build_image
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ DEFINE_integer verity_max_ios -1 \
   "Number of outstanding I/O operations dm-verity caps at. Default: -1"
 DEFINE_string verity_algorithm "sha1" \
   "Cryptographic hash algorithm used for kernel vboot. Default : sha1"
+DEFINE_boolean standard_backdoor ${FLAGS_TRUE} \
+  "Install standard backdoor credentials for testing"
 
 # Parse command line.
 FLAGS "$@" || exit 1
@@ -837,10 +839,16 @@ mod_image_for_test () {
 
   emerge_chromeos_test
 
+  BACKDOOR=0
+  if [ $FLAGS_standard_backdoor -eq $FLAGS_TRUE ]; then
+    BACKDOOR=1
+  fi
+
   local mod_test_script="${SCRIPTS_DIR}/mod_for_test_scripts/test_setup.sh"
   # Run test setup script to modify the image
   sudo -E GCLIENT_ROOT="${GCLIENT_ROOT}" ROOT_FS_DIR="${ROOT_FS_DIR}" \
-    STATEFUL_DIR="${STATEFUL_FS_DIR}" ARCH="${ARCH}" "${mod_test_script}"
+    STATEFUL_DIR="${STATEFUL_FS_DIR}" ARCH="${ARCH}" BACKDOOR="${BACKDOOR}" \
+    "${mod_test_script}"
 
   if [ ${FLAGS_factory} -eq ${FLAGS_TRUE} ]; then
     emerge_to_image --root="${ROOT_FS_DIR}" factorytest-init