diff --git a/build.py b/build.py
index 81c68c64..c341dda5 100755
--- a/build.py
+++ b/build.py
@@ -149,10 +149,18 @@ def build_local(app, thisbuild, vcs, build_dir, output_dir, extlib_dir, tmp_dir,
     tarball.close()
 
     # Build native stuff if required...
-    if thisbuild.get('buildjni', 'no') == 'yes':
+    if thisbuild.get('buildjni') not in (None, 'no'):
+        jni_components = thisbuild.get('buildjni')
+        if jni_components == 'yes':
+            jni_components = ['']
+        else:
+            jni_components = jni_components.split(';')
         ndkbuild = os.path.join(ndk_path, "ndk-build")
-        p = subprocess.Popen([ndkbuild], cwd=root_dir,
-                stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+        for d in jni_components:
+            if options.verbose:
+                print "Running ndk-build in " + root_dir + '/' + d
+            p = subprocess.Popen([ndkbuild], cwd=root_dir + '/' + d,
+                    stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
         output = p.communicate()[0]
         if p.returncode != 0:
             print output
@@ -327,9 +335,11 @@ def parse_commandline():
 
     return options, args
 
+options = None
 
 def main():
 
+    global options
     # Read configuration...
     execfile('config.py', globals())
     options, args = parse_commandline()
diff --git a/common.py b/common.py
index 978ecf98..a20da969 100644
--- a/common.py
+++ b/common.py
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ def prepare_source(vcs, app, build, build_dir, extlib_dir, sdk_path, ndk_path, j
             raise BuildException("Error running init command")
 
     # Generate (or update) the ant build file, build.xml...
-    if (build.get('update', 'yes') != 'no' and
+    if (build.get('update', '.') != 'no' and
         not build.has_key('maven')):
         parms = [os.path.join(sdk_path, 'tools', 'android'),
                 'update', 'project', '-p', '.']
@@ -721,14 +721,17 @@ def prepare_source(vcs, app, build, build_dir, extlib_dir, sdk_path, ndk_path, j
         if build.has_key('target'):
             parms.append('-t')
             parms.append(build['target'])
+        update_dirs = build.get('update', '.').split(';')
         # Force build.xml update if necessary...
-        if build.get('update', 'yes') == 'force' or build.has_key('target'):
+        if build.get('update', '.') == 'force' or build.has_key('target'):
+            update_dirs = ['.']
             buildxml = os.path.join(root_dir, 'build.xml')
             if os.path.exists(buildxml):
                 print 'Force-removing old build.xml'
                 os.remove(buildxml)
-        if subprocess.call(parms, cwd=root_dir) != 0:
-            raise BuildException("Failed to update project")
+        for d in update_dirs:
+            if subprocess.call(parms, cwd=root_dir + '/' + d) != 0:
+                raise BuildException("Failed to update project")
 
     # If the app has ant set up to sign the release, we need to switch
     # that off, because we want the unsigned apk...
@@ -1000,7 +1003,7 @@ def scan_source(build_dir, root_dir, thisbuild):
     # Presence of a jni directory without buildjni=yes might
     # indicate a problem...
     if (os.path.exists(os.path.join(root_dir, 'jni')) and 
-            thisbuild.get('buildjni', 'no') == 'no'):
+            thisbuild.get('buildjni') is None):
         msg = 'Found jni directory, but buildjni is not enabled'
         problems.append(msg)
 
diff --git a/docs/fdroid.texi b/docs/fdroid.texi
index 3729a46f..297b2220 100644
--- a/docs/fdroid.texi
+++ b/docs/fdroid.texi
@@ -614,23 +614,34 @@ build.xml file. Specifying update=no bypasses that.
 
 Specifiying update=force forces rebuilding of the build.xml file at the
 same time - this is frequently needed with r14 of the Android platform
-tools.
+tools. Be aware of any customisations in build.xml when using
+update=force.
 
-Be aware of any customisations in build.xml when using update=force.
+Otherwise, value can be a semicol-separated list of directories in
+which to run 'android update project' relative to the main
+application directory (which may include '@code{subdir}' parameter).
+Default value is '@code{.}', and passing non-default value may be
+useful for multi-component projects. Note that @code{--subprojects}
+switch is automatically passed to 'android update project', so using
+explicit list may be needed only for peculiar source layouts.
 
 @item initfun=yes
 Enables a selection of mad hacks to make com.funambol.android build.
 Probably not useful for any other application.
 
-@item buildjni=[no|yes|force]
+@item buildjni=[yes|no|<dir list>]
 Enables building of native code via the ndk-build script before doing
-the main ant build. The default is @code{no}.
+the main ant build. The value may be a list of directories relative
+to the main application directory in which to run ndk-build, or 'yes'
+which corresponds to '.' . Using explicit list may be useful to build
+multi-component projects.
 
-The build and scan processes will complain (refuse to build) if this is set
-to @code{no}, but there is a @code{jni} directory present. If the native code
-is being built by other means, you can specify @code{manual} here to avoid
-that. However, if the native code is actually not required, remove the
-directory instead.
+The build and scan processes will complain (refuse to build) if this
+parameter is not defined, but there is a @code{jni} directory present.
+If the native code is being built by other means, you can specify
+@code{no} here to avoid that. However, if the native code is actually
+not required, remove the directory instead (using @code{prebuild} for
+example).
 
 @item submodules=yes
 Use if the project (git only) has submodules - causes git submodule