diff --git a/files/build_templates/sonic_debian_extension.j2 b/files/build_templates/sonic_debian_extension.j2
index c02263d3e37e..7a42aa0b1323 100644
--- a/files/build_templates/sonic_debian_extension.j2
+++ b/files/build_templates/sonic_debian_extension.j2
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ sudo bash -c "echo enabled=false > $FILESYSTEM_ROOT/etc/sonic/updategraph.conf"
 # Copy SNMP configuration files
 sudo cp $IMAGE_CONFIGS/snmp/snmp.yml $FILESYSTEM_ROOT/etc/sonic/
 
+# Copy initial DHCP relay configuration file, will be overwritten after docker starts
+sudo cp $IMAGE_CONFIGS/dhcp_relay/dhcp_relay.yml $FILESYSTEM_ROOT/etc/sonic/
+
 # Generate build version file
 export git_revision=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
 export sonic_hwsku={{sonic_hwsku}}
diff --git a/files/image_config/dhcp_relay/dhcp_relay.yml b/files/image_config/dhcp_relay/dhcp_relay.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7ef552d5092f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/image_config/dhcp_relay/dhcp_relay.yml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+dhcp_servers: []