diff --git a/docker/common/keepalived/config-external.sh b/docker/common/keepalived/config-external.sh
index cb69e1c8f6..d7ff97826e 100755
--- a/docker/common/keepalived/config-external.sh
+++ b/docker/common/keepalived/config-external.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ TARGET="/etc/keepalived/keepalived.conf"
 OWNER="root"
 
 if [[ -f "$SOURCE" ]]; then
-    rm $TARGET
     cp $SOURCE $TARGET
     chown ${OWNER}: $TARGET
     chmod 0644 $TARGET
diff --git a/docker_templates/keepalived/Dockerfile.j2 b/docker_templates/keepalived/Dockerfile.j2
index 4943ae0627..3ad2a667ce 100644
--- a/docker_templates/keepalived/Dockerfile.j2
+++ b/docker_templates/keepalived/Dockerfile.j2
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ RUN yum -y install \
 
 {% elif base_distro in ['ubuntu', 'debian'] %}
 
-RUN echo '{{ install_type }} not yet available for {{ base_distro }}' \
-    && /bin/false
+RUN apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+        keepalived \
+        socat \
+    && apt-get clean
 
 {% endif %}