diff --git a/scripts/image-build/build-vyos-image b/scripts/image-build/build-vyos-image
index ee7905b4b2..84668b4b7d 100755
--- a/scripts/image-build/build-vyos-image
+++ b/scripts/image-build/build-vyos-image
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ def build():
 
     from utils import cmd, rc_cmd
     from utils import directories
+    from utils import activation_hint
+    from utils import activation_init
 
     ## Check if there are missing build dependencies
     deps = {
@@ -490,6 +492,13 @@ DOCUMENTATION_URL="{build_config['documentation_url']}"
         with open(os.path.join(binary_includes_dir, 'version.json'), 'w') as f:
             json.dump(version_data, f)
 
+        # For initialization of activation scripts, we need to know if we
+        # are building with create_raw_image
+        if build_config["image_format"] != ["iso"]:
+            raw_build_hint = os.path.join(vyos_data_dir, os.path.basename(activation_hint))
+            with open(raw_build_hint, 'w') as f:
+                pass
+
         # For backwards compatibility with 'add system image' script from older versions
         # we need a file in the old format so that script can find out the version of the image
         # for upgrade
@@ -628,6 +637,16 @@ DOCUMENTATION_URL="{build_config['documentation_url']}"
             with open(file_path, 'w') as f:
                 f.write(build_config["default_config"])
 
+        ## Allow override of which activation scripts are enabled at boot
+        if has_nonempty_key(build_config, "activation_init"):
+            file_path = os.path.join(
+                chroot_includes_dir,
+                activation_init.lstrip(os.sep)
+            )
+            os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(file_path), exist_ok=True)
+            with open(file_path, 'w') as f:
+                f.write(build_config["activation_init"])
+
         ## Configure live-build
         lb_config_tmpl = jinja2.Template("""
         lb config noauto \
diff --git a/scripts/image-build/utils.py b/scripts/image-build/utils.py
index 9e6dc63464..5f5573330f 100644
--- a/scripts/image-build/utils.py
+++ b/scripts/image-build/utils.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 import vyos
 
 from vyos.defaults import directories
+from vyos.defaults import activation_hint
+from vyos.defaults import activation_init
 
 
 def check_build_config():