diff --git a/attn/attn_config.in b/attn/attn_config.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94d7842
--- /dev/null
+++ b/attn/attn_config.in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+CONFIG=@ATTN_CONFIG@
diff --git a/attn/attn_handler.service.in b/attn/attn_handler.service.in
index def8a00..ff31f34 100644
--- a/attn/attn_handler.service.in
+++ b/attn/attn_handler.service.in
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 
 [Service]
 @ENABLE_PHAL_TRUE@Environment="PDBG_DTB=/var/lib/phosphor-software-manager/hostfw/running/DEVTREE"
-ExecStart=/usr/bin/openpower-hw-diags --daemon
+EnvironmentFile=/etc/default/attn_config                                        
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/openpower-hw-diags --daemon $CONFIG
 Restart=on-failure
 
 [Install]
diff --git a/attn/meson.build b/attn/meson.build
index 616890f..34ec50a 100644
--- a/attn/meson.build
+++ b/attn/meson.build
@@ -6,16 +6,20 @@
 # dependency to link gpiod support
 libgpiod = dependency('libgpiod', version : '>=1.4.1')
 
-# ENABLE_PHAL_TRUE used in attn_handler.service.in
+# get openpower-hw-diags build configuration
 attn_conf = configuration_data()
 
+# conditionally define ENABLE_PHAL_TRUE
 if (get_option('phal').enabled())
     attn_conf.set('ENABLE_PHAL_TRUE', '')
 else
     attn_conf.set('ENABLE_PHAL_TRUE', '#')
 endif
 
-# install systemd unit file
+# attention handler default config override
+attn_conf.set('ATTN_CONFIG', get_option('attn_config'))
+
+# install attention handler unit file
 configure_file(
     configuration: attn_conf,
     input: 'attn_handler.service.in',
@@ -25,6 +29,15 @@
         dependency('systemd').get_variable(pkgconfig: 'systemdsystemunitdir')
 )
 
+# install attention handler config file
+configure_file(
+    configuration: attn_conf,
+    input: 'attn_config.in',
+    output: 'attn_config',
+    install: true,
+    install_dir: join_paths(get_option('sysconfdir'), 'default')
+)
+
 # Source files.
 attn_src = files(
     'attention.cpp',
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 635fb07..5587317 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-option('tests', type: 'feature', description: 'Build tests')
-option('nlmode', type: 'feature', description: 'no run-time control')
-
-option('phal', type: 'feature', value : 'disabled',
+option('tests', type : 'feature', description : 'Build tests')
+option('nlmode', type : 'feature', description : 'no run-time control')
+option('phal', type : 'feature', value : 'disabled',
         description : '''Enable PHAL APIs for retrieving data from the POWER
                          Systems device tree''')
-
+option('attn_config', type : 'string', value : '',
+        description : '''Attention handler default configuration override''')