diff --git a/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2 b/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
index 546eb24cb629..a7b8024d028a 100644
--- a/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
+++ b/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
@@ -249,6 +249,12 @@ function postStartAction()
                     $SONIC_CFGGEN -j /etc/sonic/config_db$DEV.json --write-to-db
                 fi
             fi
+
+            if [[ "$BOOT_TYPE" == "fast" ]]; then
+                # this is the case when base OS version does not support fast-reboot with reconciliation logic (dump.rdb is absent)
+                # In this case, we need to set the flag to indicate fast-reboot is in progress. Set the key to expire in 3 minutes
+                $SONIC_DB_CLI STATE_DB SET "FAST_REBOOT|system" "1" "EX" "180"
+            fi
         fi
 
         if [ -e /tmp/pending_config_migration ] || [ -e /tmp/pending_config_initialization ]; then