diff --git a/build/build.go b/build/build.go
index 13fd0e33f9d1..af27aa32f801 100644
--- a/build/build.go
+++ b/build/build.go
@@ -331,6 +331,14 @@ func toSolveOpt(d driver.Driver, multiDriver bool, opt Options, dl dockerLoadCal
 		AllowedEntitlements: opt.Allow,
 	}
 
+	if !multiDriver {
+		if v, ok := opt.BuildArgs["BUILDKIT_MULTI_PLATFORM"]; ok {
+			if v, _ := strconv.ParseBool(v); v {
+				multiDriver = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	if multiDriver {
 		// force creation of manifest list
 		so.FrontendAttrs["multi-platform"] = "true"