diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index fddea45..ff5c0f7 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@
         'service_files/op-reset-host-clear.service',
         'service_files/phal-import-devtree@.service',
         'service_files/phal-export-devtree@.service',
+        'service_files/phal-create-boottime-guard-indicator.service',
     ]
     unit_subs.set('ENABLE_PHAL_TRUE', '')
 endif
diff --git a/service_files/phal-create-boottime-guard-indicator.service.in b/service_files/phal-create-boottime-guard-indicator.service.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e09ec8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/service_files/phal-create-boottime-guard-indicator.service.in
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=PHAL, Create boottime guard indicator
+Wants=start_host@0.service
+Before=start_host@0.service
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+RemainAfterExit=no
+ExecStart=/bin/mkdir -p /tmp/phal
+# PHAL will take some guard actions based on the below indicator
+# and remove it.
+ExecStart=/bin/touch /tmp/phal/boottime_guard_indicator
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=obmc-host-start@0.target
+WantedBy=obmc-host-quiesce@0.target