diff --git a/cmd/trainers/torchtune/Dockerfile b/cmd/trainers/torchtune/Dockerfile
index 76023e9696..0182490f5e 100644
--- a/cmd/trainers/torchtune/Dockerfile
+++ b/cmd/trainers/torchtune/Dockerfile
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ FROM pytorch/pytorch:2.7.1-cuda12.8-cudnn9-runtime
 
 WORKDIR /workspace
 
+# Install build-essential for compiling any dependencies
+RUN apt update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends build-essential \
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
 # Copy the required Python modules
 COPY cmd/trainers/torchtune/requirements.txt .