diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/resident_runner.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/resident_runner.dart
index 88c11d46bf3..726562df1da 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/resident_runner.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/resident_runner.dart
@@ -946,6 +946,10 @@ abstract class ResidentRunner {
     if (device.package.packagesFile == null || !device.package.packagesFile.existsSync()) {
       return true;
     }
+    // why is this sometimes an APK.
+    if (!device.package.packagesFile.path.contains('.packages')) {
+      return true;
+    }
     // Leave pubspec null to check all dependencies.
     final ProjectFileInvalidator projectFileInvalidator = ProjectFileInvalidator(device.package.packagesFile.path, null);
     projectFileInvalidator.findInvalidated();