diff --git a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/docker_init.sh b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/docker_init.sh
index 0ed274ec703..390a403aa59 100755
--- a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/docker_init.sh
+++ b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/docker_init.sh
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ write_default_zebra_config()
         echo "no fpm use-next-hop-groups" >> $FILE_NAME
         echo "fpm address 127.0.0.1" >> $FILE_NAME
     }
+
+    grep -q '^no zebra nexthop kernel enable' $FILE_NAME || {
+        echo "no zebra nexthop kernel enable" >> $FILE_NAME
+    }
 }
 
 if [[ ! -z "$NAMESPACE_ID" ]]; then
diff --git a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/zebra/zebra.conf.j2 b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/zebra/zebra.conf.j2
index f5a56c316d4..4543ad8f974 100644
--- a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/zebra/zebra.conf.j2
+++ b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/zebra/zebra.conf.j2
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 {% endblock banner %}
 !
 {% block fpm %}
+! Force disable next hop group support
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 ! Uses the old known FPM behavior of including next hop information in the route (e.g. RTM_NEWROUTE) messages
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
 !
diff --git a/platform/vs/docker-sonic-vs/frr/zebra.conf b/platform/vs/docker-sonic-vs/frr/zebra.conf
index 4c994e60def..1980a6e159f 100644
--- a/platform/vs/docker-sonic-vs/frr/zebra.conf
+++ b/platform/vs/docker-sonic-vs/frr/zebra.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
-
 fpm address 127.0.0.1
-
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/sonic-cfggen/zebra/zebra.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/sonic-cfggen/zebra/zebra.conf
index 6b7e1feff00..38db2964823 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/sonic-cfggen/zebra/zebra.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/sonic-cfggen/zebra/zebra.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 ! file: zebra.conf
 !
 !
+! Force disable next hop group support
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 ! Uses the old known FPM behavior of including next hop information in the route (e.g. RTM_NEWROUTE) messages
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
 !
diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/t2-chassis-fe-vni-zebra.conf b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/t2-chassis-fe-vni-zebra.conf
index 8bb48345682..120878fe118 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/t2-chassis-fe-vni-zebra.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/t2-chassis-fe-vni-zebra.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 ! file: zebra.conf
 !
 !
+! Force disable next hop group support
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 ! Uses the old known FPM behavior of including next hop information in the route (e.g. RTM_NEWROUTE) messages
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
 !
diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/t2-chassis-fe-zebra.conf b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/t2-chassis-fe-zebra.conf
index 402230348a4..a6e3ad05310 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/t2-chassis-fe-zebra.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/t2-chassis-fe-zebra.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 ! file: zebra.conf
 !
 !
+! Force disable next hop group support
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 ! Uses the old known FPM behavior of including next hop information in the route (e.g. RTM_NEWROUTE) messages
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
 !
diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/zebra_frr.conf b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/zebra_frr.conf
index 9d0ab16ee38..9e438caa0e3 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/zebra_frr.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/zebra_frr.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 ! file: zebra.conf
 !
 !
+! Force disable next hop group support
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 ! Uses the old known FPM behavior of including next hop information in the route (e.g. RTM_NEWROUTE) messages
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
 !
diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/t2-chassis-fe-vni-zebra.conf b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/t2-chassis-fe-vni-zebra.conf
index b5590605661..c6c973f7f05 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/t2-chassis-fe-vni-zebra.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/t2-chassis-fe-vni-zebra.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 ! file: zebra.conf
 !
 !
+! Force disable next hop group support
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 ! Uses the old known FPM behavior of including next hop information in the route (e.g. RTM_NEWROUTE) messages
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
 !
diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/t2-chassis-fe-zebra.conf b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/t2-chassis-fe-zebra.conf
index 19e303639a5..84e76ecdb01 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/t2-chassis-fe-zebra.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/t2-chassis-fe-zebra.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 ! file: zebra.conf
 !
 !
+! Force disable next hop group support
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 ! Uses the old known FPM behavior of including next hop information in the route (e.g. RTM_NEWROUTE) messages
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
 !
diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/zebra_frr.conf b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/zebra_frr.conf
index a5fb8b1ca10..b8adb98787a 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/zebra_frr.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/zebra_frr.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 ! file: zebra.conf
 !
 !
+! Force disable next hop group support
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 ! Uses the old known FPM behavior of including next hop information in the route (e.g. RTM_NEWROUTE) messages
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
 !