diff --git a/sdk/python/kfp/containers/_build_image_api.py b/sdk/python/kfp/containers/_build_image_api.py
index b5981ab8275..f01a0cb6bf1 100644
--- a/sdk/python/kfp/containers/_build_image_api.py
+++ b/sdk/python/kfp/containers/_build_image_api.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 __all__ = [
     'build_image_from_working_dir',
+    'default_image_builder',
 ]
 
 
@@ -35,14 +36,7 @@
 _container_work_dir = '/python_env'
 
 
-_default_image_builder = None
-
-
-def _get_default_image_builder():
-    global _default_image_builder
-    if _default_image_builder is None:
-        _default_image_builder = ContainerBuilder()
-    return _default_image_builder
+default_image_builder = ContainerBuilder()
 
 
 def _generate_dockerfile_text(context_dir: str, dockerfile_path: str, base_image: str = None) -> str:
@@ -122,7 +116,7 @@ def build_image_from_working_dir(image_name: str = None, working_dir: str = None
             return cached_image_name
 
         if builder is None:
-            builder = _get_default_image_builder()
+            builder = default_image_builder
         image_name = builder.build(
             local_dir=context_dir,
             target_image=image_name,