diff --git a/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2 b/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
index fbd25d699a..0c031b103f 100644
--- a/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
+++ b/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ function postStartAction()
           sleep 1;
         done
         if [[ ("$BOOT_TYPE" == "warm" || "$BOOT_TYPE" == "fastfast") && -f $WARM_DIR/dump.rdb ]]; then
-            rm -f $WARM_DIR/dump.rdb
+            # retain the dump file from last boot for debugging purposes
+            mv $WARM_DIR/dump.rdb $WARM_DIR/dump.rdb.old
         else
             # If there is a config_db.json dump file, load it.
             if [ -r /etc/sonic/config_db$DEV.json ]; then