diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/build/build_webapp.py b/stack_orchestrator/build/build_webapp.py
index 1021f4bf..5b349366 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/build/build_webapp.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/build/build_webapp.py
@@ -88,9 +88,17 @@ def command(ctx, base_container, source_repo, force_rebuild, extra_build_args, t
     # Now build the target webapp.  We use the same build script, but with a different Dockerfile and work dir.
     container_build_env["CERC_WEBAPP_BUILD_RUNNING"] = "true"
     container_build_env["CERC_CONTAINER_BUILD_WORK_DIR"] = os.path.abspath(source_repo)
-    container_build_env["CERC_CONTAINER_BUILD_DOCKERFILE"] = os.path.join(container_build_dir,
-                                                                          base_container.replace("/", "-"),
-                                                                          "Dockerfile.webapp")
+    # Check if Dockerfile exists in the repository
+    repo_dockerfile = os.path.join(container_build_env["CERC_CONTAINER_BUILD_WORK_DIR"], "Dockerfile")
+    default_dockerfile = os.path.join(container_build_dir,
+                                    base_container.replace("/", "-"),
+                                    "Dockerfile.webapp")
+
+    if os.path.isfile(repo_dockerfile):
+        container_build_env["CERC_CONTAINER_BUILD_DOCKERFILE"] = repo_dockerfile
+    else:
+        container_build_env["CERC_CONTAINER_BUILD_DOCKERFILE"] = default_dockerfile
+
     if not tag:
         webapp_name = os.path.abspath(source_repo).split(os.path.sep)[-1]
         tag = f"cerc/{webapp_name}:local"