diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 97624e0..b0bf2be 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@
 containers: base rw_core ro_core simulated_olt simulated_onu afrouter arouterd
 
 base:
+ifdef LOCAL_PROTOS
+	mkdir -p vendor/github.com/opencord/voltha-protos/go
+	cp -r ${GOPATH}/src/github.com/opencord/voltha-protos/go/ vendor/github.com/opencord/voltha-protos
+endif
 	docker build $(DOCKER_BUILD_ARGS) -t base:latest -f docker/Dockerfile.base .
 
 afrouter: