diff --git a/examples/lighting-app/silabs/BUILD.gn b/examples/lighting-app/silabs/BUILD.gn
index d6bd2144b7..8606a07d07 100644
--- a/examples/lighting-app/silabs/BUILD.gn
+++ b/examples/lighting-app/silabs/BUILD.gn
@@ -131,7 +131,6 @@ silabs_executable("lighting_app") {
   sources = [
     "${examples_common_plat_dir}/main.cpp",
     "src/AppTask.cpp",
-    "src/CustomAppTask.cpp",
     "src/DataModelCallbacks.cpp",
   ]
 
diff --git a/third_party/silabs/BUILD.gn b/third_party/silabs/BUILD.gn
index 60621c8673..f24d9e9f13 100644
--- a/third_party/silabs/BUILD.gn
+++ b/third_party/silabs/BUILD.gn
@@ -54,6 +54,24 @@ group("silabs_sdk") {
   public_configs = [ ":silabs_config" ]
 }
 
+# copy CustomAppTask template into build directory
+_silabs_platform_dir = "${chip_root}/examples/platform/silabs"
+action("ensure_custom_app_task") {
+  script = "ensure_local_custom_app_task.py"
+  args = [
+    rebase_path(_silabs_platform_dir, root_build_dir),
+    rebase_path(root_build_dir, root_build_dir),
+  ]
+  inputs = [
+    "${_silabs_platform_dir}/CustomAppTask.cpp",
+    "${_silabs_platform_dir}/CustomAppTask.h",
+  ]
+  outputs = [
+    "${root_build_dir}/config/CustomAppTask.cpp",
+    "${root_build_dir}/config/CustomAppTask.h",
+  ]
+}
+
 if (chip_with_lwip) {
   group("lwip") {
     public_deps = [ "silabs_lwip:lwip" ]
diff --git a/third_party/silabs/ensure_local_custom_app_task.py b/third_party/silabs/ensure_local_custom_app_task.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4e1baabf78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/third_party/silabs/ensure_local_custom_app_task.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2020 Project CHIP Authors
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use it except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+# Copies CustomAppTask.cpp and CustomAppTask.h from the template
+
+import os
+import shutil
+import sys
+
+
+def main():
+    if len(sys.argv) != 3:
+        sys.stderr.write(
+            "usage: ensure_local_custom_app_task.py <platform_silabs_dir> <root_build_dir>\n"
+        )
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    base = os.getcwd()
+    platform_dir = os.path.normpath(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(base, sys.argv[1])))
+    root_build_dir = os.path.normpath(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(base, sys.argv[2])))
+
+    template_cpp = os.path.join(platform_dir, "CustomAppTask.cpp")
+    template_h = os.path.join(platform_dir, "CustomAppTask.h")
+    build_config_dir = os.path.join(root_build_dir, "config")
+    dest_cpp = os.path.join(build_config_dir, "CustomAppTask.cpp")
+    dest_h = os.path.join(build_config_dir, "CustomAppTask.h")
+
+    for path in (template_cpp, template_h):
+        if not os.path.isfile(path):
+            sys.stderr.write("template not found: %s\n" % path)
+            sys.exit(1)
+
+    # Only copy when build dir does not have a copy
+    if os.path.isfile(dest_cpp):
+        return
+
+    os.makedirs(build_config_dir, exist_ok=True)
+    shutil.copy2(template_cpp, dest_cpp)
+    shutil.copy2(template_h, dest_h)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/third_party/silabs/silabs_executable.gni b/third_party/silabs/silabs_executable.gni
index 37b853c5df..aeafe2cb25 100644
--- a/third_party/silabs/silabs_executable.gni
+++ b/third_party/silabs/silabs_executable.gni
@@ -14,9 +14,12 @@
 
 import("//build_overrides/build.gni")
 import("//build_overrides/chip.gni")
+import("//build_overrides/efr32_sdk.gni")
 import("${build_root}/toolchain/flashable_executable.gni")
 import("silabs_board.gni")
 
+_custom_app_task_dep = "${silabs_sdk_build_root}:ensure_custom_app_task"
+
 template("generate_rps_file") {
   forward_variables_from(invoker,
                          [
@@ -103,10 +106,17 @@ template("silabs_executable") {
   ]
   flashbundle_name = ""  # Stop flashable_executable from making flashbundle.
 
+  # copy CustomAppTask from template into build directory
+  _custom_app_task_gen_dir = "${root_build_dir}/config"
+
   # Target to generate the s37 file, flashing script, and flashbundle.
   flash_target_name = target_name + ".flash_executable"
   flashable_executable(flash_target_name) {
     forward_variables_from(invoker, "*")
+
+    sources += [ "${_custom_app_task_gen_dir}/CustomAppTask.cpp" ]
+    include_dirs += [ _custom_app_task_gen_dir ]
+    deps += [ _custom_app_task_dep ]
   }
 
   # Target to generate the hex file.