diff --git a/llama_stack/distribution/build.py b/llama_stack/distribution/build.py
index f376301f9..64e96f4b8 100644
--- a/llama_stack/distribution/build.py
+++ b/llama_stack/distribution/build.py
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ def build_image(build_config: BuildConfig, build_file_path: Path):
             docker_image,
             str(build_file_path),
             str(BUILDS_BASE_DIR / ImageType.docker.value),
+            "--use-host-network" if build_config.use_host_network else "",
             " ".join(normal_deps),
         ]
     elif build_config.image_type == ImageType.conda.value:
diff --git a/llama_stack/distribution/build_container.sh b/llama_stack/distribution/build_container.sh
index 49e65b8cb..d6e160fc5 100755
--- a/llama_stack/distribution/build_container.sh
+++ b/llama_stack/distribution/build_container.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ LLAMA_MODELS_DIR=${LLAMA_MODELS_DIR:-}
 LLAMA_STACK_DIR=${LLAMA_STACK_DIR:-}
 TEST_PYPI_VERSION=${TEST_PYPI_VERSION:-}
 BUILD_PLATFORM=${BUILD_PLATFORM:-}
+USE_HOST_NETWORK=${USE_HOST_NETWORK:-}
 
 if [ "$#" -lt 4 ]; then
   echo "Usage: $0 <build_name> <docker_base> <pip_dependencies> [<special_pip_deps>]" >&2
@@ -163,14 +164,23 @@ if [ -n "$BUILD_PLATFORM" ]; then
 elif [ "$ARCH" = "arm64" ] || [ "$ARCH" = "aarch64" ]; then
   PLATFORM="--platform linux/arm64"
 elif [ "$ARCH" = "x86_64" ]; then
+  # TODO: This is a hack, make the network host into a flag
   PLATFORM="--platform linux/amd64"
 else
   echo "Unsupported architecture: $ARCH"
   exit 1
 fi
 
+# Optionally add host network flag if requested.
+# Set USE_HOST_NETWORK=1 (or "true") in the environment to enable it.
+if [ "${USE_HOST_NETWORK:-}" = "1" ] || [ "${USE_HOST_NETWORK:-}" = "true" ]; then
+  HOST_NETWORK="--network host"
+else
+  HOST_NETWORK=""
+fi
+
 set -x
-$DOCKER_BINARY build $DOCKER_OPTS $PLATFORM -t $image_tag -f "$TEMP_DIR/Dockerfile" "$REPO_DIR" $mounts
+$DOCKER_BINARY build $DOCKER_OPTS $PLATFORM $HOST_NETWORK -t $image_tag -f "$TEMP_DIR/Dockerfile" "$REPO_DIR" $mounts
 
 # clean up tmp/configs
 set +x
diff --git a/llama_stack/distribution/datatypes.py b/llama_stack/distribution/datatypes.py
index d0ccd6cd1..b6380b355 100644
--- a/llama_stack/distribution/datatypes.py
+++ b/llama_stack/distribution/datatypes.py
@@ -174,3 +174,7 @@ class BuildConfig(BaseModel):
         default="conda",
         description="Type of package to build (conda | docker | venv)",
     )
+    use_host_network: bool = Field(
+        default=False,
+        description="Use host network for the build",
+    )