diff --git a/build_image b/build_image
index a1b162400c..3a7c3f1644 100755
--- a/build_image
+++ b/build_image
@@ -348,6 +348,9 @@ update_dev_packages() {
 
   # Additional changes to developer image.
 
+  # Leave core files for developers to inspect.
+  sudo touch "${ROOT_FS_DIR}/etc/leave_core"
+
   # The ldd tool is a useful shell script but lives in glibc; just copy it.
   sudo cp -a "$(which ldd)" "${root_dev_dir}/usr/bin"