diff --git a/docker/base/Dockerfile b/docker/base/Dockerfile
index 84e3f7670af..ab9a9d4823e 100644
--- a/docker/base/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/base/Dockerfile
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 # https://github.com/docker/hub-feedback/issues/292 is fixed.
 FROM vitess/bootstrap:mysql57
 
+# Allows some docker builds to disable CGO
+ARG CGO_ENABLED=0
+
 # Re-copy sources from working tree
 USER root
 COPY . /vt/src/vitess.io/vitess