diff --git a/conf/distro/include/phosphor-base.inc b/conf/distro/include/phosphor-base.inc
index 1908118..d91dd7c 100644
--- a/conf/distro/include/phosphor-base.inc
+++ b/conf/distro/include/phosphor-base.inc
@@ -154,4 +154,4 @@
 # make sense on a BMC anyway.
 BAD_RECOMMENDATIONS_pn-obmc-phosphor-image = "udev-hwdb"
 
-LAYER_CONF_VERSION = "8"
+LAYER_CONF_VERSION ?= "8"