diff --git a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/cli.py b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/cli.py
index 07a71c8b9..4e56bb8cc 100644
--- a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/cli.py
+++ b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/cli.py
@@ -273,6 +273,7 @@ def _build(
     pull: bool,
     tag: str,
     passthrough: Sequence[str] = (),
+    base_docker_tag: Optional[str] = None,
 ):
     # pull latest images
     if pull:
@@ -280,10 +281,13 @@ def _build(
             subp_exec(
                 "docker",
                 "pull",
-                langgraph_cli.config.docker_tag(config_json, base_image),
+                langgraph_cli.config.docker_tag(
+                    config_json, base_image, base_docker_tag
+                ),
                 verbose=True,
             )
         )
+
     set("Building...")
     # apply options
     args = [
@@ -294,7 +298,7 @@ def _build(
     ]
     # apply config
     stdin, additional_contexts = langgraph_cli.config.config_to_docker(
-        config, config_json, base_image
+        config, config_json, base_image, base_docker_tag
     )
     # add additional_contexts
     if additional_contexts:
@@ -355,7 +359,15 @@ def build(
             raise click.UsageError("Docker not installed") from None
         config_json = langgraph_cli.config.validate_config_file(config)
         _build(
-            runner, set, config, config_json, base_image, pull, tag, docker_build_args
+            runner,
+            set,
+            config,
+            config_json,
+            base_image,
+            pull,
+            tag,
+            docker_build_args,
+            config_json.get("_INTERNAL_docker_tag"),
         )
 
 
diff --git a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/config.py b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/config.py
index f11850016..7b18b4a4d 100644
--- a/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/config.py
+++ b/libs/cli/langgraph_cli/config.py
@@ -326,6 +326,10 @@ class Config(TypedDict, total=False):
     Must be >= 20 if provided.
     """
 
+    _INTERNAL_docker_tag: Optional[str]
+    """Optional. Internal use only.
+    """
+
     pip_config_file: Optional[str]
     """Optional. Path to a pip config file (e.g., "/etc/pip.conf" or "pip.ini") for controlling
     package installation (custom indices, credentials, etc.).
@@ -480,6 +484,7 @@ def validate_config(config: Config) -> Config:
         "node_version": node_version,
         "python_version": python_version,
         "pip_config_file": config.get("pip_config_file"),
+        "_INTERNAL_docker_tag": config.get("_INTERNAL_docker_tag"),
         "dependencies": config.get("dependencies", []),
         "dockerfile_lines": config.get("dockerfile_lines", []),
         "graphs": config.get("graphs", {}),
@@ -1025,7 +1030,10 @@ def _get_node_pm_install_cmd(config_path: pathlib.Path, config: Config) -> str:
 
 
 def python_config_to_docker(
-    config_path: pathlib.Path, config: Config, base_image: str
+    config_path: pathlib.Path,
+    config: Config,
+    base_image: str,
+    base_docker_tag: Optional[str] = None,
 ) -> tuple[str, dict[str, str]]:
     """Generate a Dockerfile from the configuration."""
     # configure pip
@@ -1160,7 +1168,7 @@ ADD {relpath} /deps/{name}
         )
 
     docker_file_contents = [
-        f"FROM {base_image}:{config['python_version']}",
+        f"FROM {base_image}:{base_docker_tag or config['python_version']}",
         "",
         os.linesep.join(config["dockerfile_lines"]),
         "",
@@ -1192,7 +1200,10 @@ ADD {relpath} /deps/{name}
 
 
 def node_config_to_docker(
-    config_path: pathlib.Path, config: Config, base_image: str
+    config_path: pathlib.Path,
+    config: Config,
+    base_image: str,
+    base_docker_tag: Optional[str] = None,
 ) -> tuple[str, dict[str, str]]:
     faux_path = f"/deps/{config_path.parent.name}"
     install_cmd = _get_node_pm_install_cmd(config_path, config)
@@ -1222,7 +1233,7 @@ def node_config_to_docker(
     env_vars.append(f"ENV LANGSERVE_GRAPHS='{json.dumps(config['graphs'])}'")
 
     docker_file_contents = [
-        f"FROM {base_image}:{config['node_version']}",
+        f"FROM {base_image}:{base_docker_tag or config['node_version']}",
         "",
         os.linesep.join(config["dockerfile_lines"]),
         "",
@@ -1246,8 +1257,14 @@ def default_base_image(config: Config) -> str:
     return "langchain/langgraph-api"
 
 
-def docker_tag(config: Config, base_image: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
+def docker_tag(
+    config: Config,
+    base_image: Optional[str] = None,
+    base_docker_tag: Optional[str] = None,
+) -> str:
     base_image = base_image or default_base_image(config)
+    if base_docker_tag:
+        return f"{base_image}:{base_docker_tag}"
 
     if config.get("node_version") and not config.get("python_version"):
         return f"{base_image}:{config['node_version']}"
@@ -1255,14 +1272,17 @@ def docker_tag(config: Config, base_image: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
 
 
 def config_to_docker(
-    config_path: pathlib.Path, config: Config, base_image: Optional[str] = None
+    config_path: pathlib.Path,
+    config: Config,
+    base_image: Optional[str] = None,
+    base_docker_tag: Optional[str] = None,
 ) -> tuple[str, dict[str, str]]:
     base_image = base_image or default_base_image(config)
 
     if config.get("node_version") and not config.get("python_version"):
-        return node_config_to_docker(config_path, config, base_image)
+        return node_config_to_docker(config_path, config, base_image, base_docker_tag)
 
-    return python_config_to_docker(config_path, config, base_image)
+    return python_config_to_docker(config_path, config, base_image, base_docker_tag)
 
 
 def config_to_compose(