diff --git a/syncd/Makefile.am b/syncd/Makefile.am
index 3c546fb74..1a969e73c 100644
--- a/syncd/Makefile.am
+++ b/syncd/Makefile.am
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ if SONIC_ASIC_PLATFORM_BROADCOM
 libSyncd_a_CXXFLAGS += -DMDIO_ACCESS_USE_NPU
 endif
 
+if SONIC_ASIC_PLATFORM_MELLANOX
+libSyncd_a_CPPFLAGS += -DSKIP_SAI_PORT_DISCOVERY
+endif
+
 libSyncdRequestShutdown_a_SOURCES = \
 									RequestShutdown.cpp \
 									RequestShutdownCommandLineOptions.cpp \
diff --git a/syncd/SaiDiscovery.cpp b/syncd/SaiDiscovery.cpp
index 8615526bb..34b7f1d26 100644
--- a/syncd/SaiDiscovery.cpp
+++ b/syncd/SaiDiscovery.cpp
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ void SaiDiscovery::discover(
 
     sai_object_type_t ot = m_sai->objectTypeQuery(rid);
 
+#ifdef SKIP_SAI_PORT_DISCOVERY
+    if (ot == SAI_OBJECT_TYPE_PORT)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+#endif
+
     if (ot == SAI_OBJECT_TYPE_NULL)
     {
         SWSS_LOG_THROW("objectTypeQuery: rid %s returned NULL object type",