diff --git a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/core/src/license.cpp b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/core/src/license.cpp
index f34b4f78..a6585d34 100644
--- a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/core/src/license.cpp
+++ b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/core/src/license.cpp
@@ -702,12 +702,13 @@ CdmResponseType CdmLicense::HandleKeyUpdateResponse(
       return INVALID_LICENSE_TYPE;
   }
 
-  // At this point of the license life-cycle (handling a renewal or
-  // release), we should already know if the license is v15 or not.
-  // If license is v16, then there should be a |core_message|
-  // present; otherwise there might have beeen some tampering with the
-  // request or response.
-  if (supports_core_messages() &&
+  // At this point of the license life-cycle (handling a renewal), we should
+  // already know if the license is v15 or not.  If license is v16, then a
+  // renewal should have a |core_message| present; otherwise there might have
+  // been some tampering with the request or response.  On the other hand, a
+  // release is processed without loading the license, so OEMCrypto does not
+  // know if it is v15 or v16, and will not add a core message.
+  if (is_renewal && supports_core_messages() &&
       (!signed_response.has_oemcrypto_core_message() ||
        signed_response.oemcrypto_core_message().empty())) {
     LOGE("Renewal response is missing |core_message| field");
@@ -720,8 +721,9 @@ CdmResponseType CdmLicense::HandleKeyUpdateResponse(
   }
   const std::string& signed_message = signed_response.msg();
   const std::string core_message =
-      supports_core_messages() ? signed_response.oemcrypto_core_message()
-                               : std::string();
+      signed_response.has_oemcrypto_core_message()
+          ? signed_response.oemcrypto_core_message()
+          : std::string();
   const std::string& signature = signed_response.signature();
 
   License license;
diff --git a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/core/test/test_base.cpp b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/core/test/test_base.cpp
index f3b90bc1..29adcfca 100644
--- a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/core/test/test_base.cpp
+++ b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/core/test/test_base.cpp
@@ -562,6 +562,7 @@ void TestLicenseHolder::GenerateKeyRequest(
   CdmAppParameterMap app_parameters;
   CdmKeySetId key_set_id;
   InitializationData init_data(init_data_type_string, key_id);
+  if (g_cutoff >= LOG_DEBUG) init_data.DumpToLogs();
   CdmKeyRequest key_request;
   CdmResponseType result = cdm_engine_->GenerateKeyRequest(
       session_id_, key_set_id, init_data, kLicenseTypeStreaming, app_parameters,
diff --git a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/cdm_extended_duration_test.cpp b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/cdm_extended_duration_test.cpp
index 3b00e13f..caf0ae10 100644
--- a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/cdm_extended_duration_test.cpp
+++ b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/cdm_extended_duration_test.cpp
@@ -268,9 +268,13 @@ class WvCdmExtendedDurationTest : public WvCdmTestBase {
                           CdmResponseType *response) {
     CdmAppParameterMap app_parameters;
     CdmKeyRequest key_request;
-
+    const std::string init_data_type = "video/mp4";
+    if (g_cutoff >= LOG_DEBUG) {
+      InitializationData parsed_init_data(init_data_type, init_data);
+      parsed_init_data.DumpToLogs();
+    }
     *response = decryptor_->GenerateKeyRequest(
-                    session_id_, key_set_id_, "video/mp4", init_data,
+                    session_id_, key_set_id_, init_data_type, init_data,
                     license_type, app_parameters, nullptr,
                     kDefaultCdmIdentifier, &key_request);
     if (*response == KEY_MESSAGE) {
diff --git a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/cdm_feature_test.cpp b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/cdm_feature_test.cpp
index 5d1f4bf1..254848dd 100644
--- a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/cdm_feature_test.cpp
+++ b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/cdm_feature_test.cpp
@@ -326,6 +326,10 @@ class WvCdmFeatureTest : public WvCdmTestBase {
     CdmKeyRequest key_request;
     std::string key_set_id;
     license_type_ = license_type;
+    if (g_cutoff >= LOG_DEBUG) {
+      InitializationData parsed_init_data(init_data_type, init_data);
+      parsed_init_data.DumpToLogs();
+    }
     EXPECT_EQ(
         expected_response,
         decryptor_.GenerateKeyRequest(
diff --git a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/request_license_test.cpp b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/request_license_test.cpp
index ed36edee..c272d474 100644
--- a/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/request_license_test.cpp
+++ b/libwvdrmengine/cdm/test/request_license_test.cpp
@@ -1776,6 +1776,10 @@ class WvCdmRequestLicenseTest : public WvCdmTestBase {
     CdmKeyRequest key_request;
     std::string key_set_id;
     license_type_ = license_type;
+    if (g_cutoff >= LOG_DEBUG) {
+      InitializationData parsed_init_data(init_data_type, init_data);
+      parsed_init_data.DumpToLogs();
+    }
     EXPECT_EQ(
         expected_response,
         decryptor_->GenerateKeyRequest(