diff --git a/metrics/init/metrics_daemon.conf b/metrics/init/metrics_daemon.conf
index 52fe90d46..3fc2dd7b4 100644
--- a/metrics/init/metrics_daemon.conf
+++ b/metrics/init/metrics_daemon.conf
@@ -16,5 +16,8 @@ pre-start script
   mkdir -p /var/lib/metrics
 end script
 
+# metrics will update the next line to add -uploader for embedded builds.
+env DAEMON_FLAGS=""
+
 expect fork
-exec metrics_daemon
+exec metrics_daemon ${DAEMON_FLAGS}