diff --git a/utils/lxc/files/lxc-auto.config b/utils/lxc/files/lxc-auto.config
index b5a7ec9920..fa635c91a3 100644
--- a/utils/lxc/files/lxc-auto.config
+++ b/utils/lxc/files/lxc-auto.config
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+# Global configuration (optional)
+# Uncomment to enable waiting for dnsmasq before starting containers
+#config global 'global'
+#	option wait_dnsmasq '1'
+#	option dnsmasq_timeout '30'
+
 #config container
 	#option name container1
 	#option timeout 300
diff --git a/utils/lxc/files/lxc-auto.init b/utils/lxc/files/lxc-auto.init
index 14fe2c509b..bda36bd221 100755
--- a/utils/lxc/files/lxc-auto.init
+++ b/utils/lxc/files/lxc-auto.init
@@ -43,6 +43,32 @@ stop_container() {
 
 start() {
 	config_load lxc-auto
+	
+	local wait_dnsmasq
+	local dnsmasq_timeout
+	config_get_bool wait_dnsmasq global wait_dnsmasq 0
+	config_get dnsmasq_timeout global dnsmasq_timeout 30
+	
+	if [ "$wait_dnsmasq" -eq 1 ]; then
+		local count=0
+
+		while [ $count -lt $dnsmasq_timeout ]; do
+			local dnsmasq_running=$(ubus call service list '{"name":"dnsmasq"}' 2>/dev/null | jsonfilter -e '@.dnsmasq.instances.*.running')
+
+			if [ "$dnsmasq_running" = "true" ]; then
+				logger -t lxc-auto "dnsmasq service confirmed running via procd"
+				break
+			fi
+
+			sleep 1
+			count=$((count + 1))
+		done
+
+		if [ $count -ge $dnsmasq_timeout ]; then
+			logger -t lxc-auto "WARNING: dnsmasq not running after ${dnsmasq_timeout}s, starting containers anyway"
+		fi
+	fi
+	config_load lxc-auto
 	config_foreach start_container container
 }