diff --git a/llama_stack/cli/stack/_build.py b/llama_stack/cli/stack/_build.py
index f69958c41..760ba2e5a 100644
--- a/llama_stack/cli/stack/_build.py
+++ b/llama_stack/cli/stack/_build.py
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ def _run_stack_build_command_from_build_config(
         build_config,
         build_file_path,
         image_name,
-        template_or_config=template_name or config_path,
+        template_or_config=template_name or config_path or str(build_file_path),
     )
     if return_code != 0:
         raise RuntimeError(f"Failed to build image {image_name}")
diff --git a/tests/unit/distribution/test_build_path.py b/tests/unit/distribution/test_build_path.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a913bd88b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/distribution/test_build_path.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# This source code is licensed under the terms described in the LICENSE file in
+# the root directory of this source tree.
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from llama_stack.cli.stack._build import (
+    _run_stack_build_command_from_build_config,
+)
+from llama_stack.distribution.datatypes import BuildConfig, DistributionSpec
+from llama_stack.distribution.utils.image_types import LlamaStackImageType
+
+
+def test_container_build_passes_path(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    called_with = {}
+
+    def spy_build_image(cfg, build_file_path, image_name, template_or_config):
+        called_with["path"] = template_or_config
+        return 0
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "llama_stack.cli.stack._build.build_image",
+        spy_build_image,
+        raising=True,
+    )
+
+    cfg = BuildConfig(
+        image_type=LlamaStackImageType.CONTAINER.value,
+        distribution_spec=DistributionSpec(providers={}, description=""),
+    )
+
+    _run_stack_build_command_from_build_config(cfg, image_name="dummy")
+
+    assert "path" in called_with
+    assert isinstance(called_with["path"], str)
+    assert Path(called_with["path"]).exists()