diff --git a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/docker_init.sh b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/docker_init.sh
index e24585945cc..f5d855f5784 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 759cd2f8c38..128bc9c5870 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
 {% if ( ('localhost' in DEVICE_METADATA) and ('nexthop_group' in  DEVICE_METADATA['localhost']) and
         (DEVICE_METADATA['localhost']['nexthop_group'] == 'enabled') ) %}
 ! enable next hop group support
diff --git a/platform/vs/docker-sonic-vs/frr/zebra.conf b/platform/vs/docker-sonic-vs/frr/zebra.conf
index 695d339cdeb..9e3bd42315d 100644
--- a/platform/vs/docker-sonic-vs/frr/zebra.conf
+++ b/platform/vs/docker-sonic-vs/frr/zebra.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
+no zebra nexthop kernel enable
 no fpm use-next-hop-groups
-
 fpm address 127.0.0.1
 zebra nexthop-group keep 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 c22fa8c7f93..23ef6d096b1 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 0761e4b2049..042f3ed16e3 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 ad04eacbc8c..5eea029e8f8 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 129a98e3c23..01a101daa54 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/py2/zebra_frr_dualtor.conf b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/zebra_frr_dualtor.conf
index a6cf1c42b07..e7898516bd5 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/zebra_frr_dualtor.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py2/zebra_frr_dualtor.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 a238f3362ad..38e73e3ef29 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 55576c57349..d59b436e152 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 dadb8972345..866d20a86ee 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
 !
diff --git a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/zebra_frr_dualtor.conf b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/zebra_frr_dualtor.conf
index 3bdb18fbc56..9885089b08a 100644
--- a/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/zebra_frr_dualtor.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-config-engine/tests/sample_output/py3/zebra_frr_dualtor.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
 !