diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/debian/install.d/10-cloud-opinions b/diskimage_builder/elements/debian/install.d/10-cloud-opinions
index 8693f085..5ecc3d26 100755
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/debian/install.d/10-cloud-opinions
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/debian/install.d/10-cloud-opinions
@@ -20,8 +20,14 @@ if [ ${DIB_DEBUG_TRACE:-1} -gt 0 ]; then
 fi
 set -eu
 set -o pipefail
-
-DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE=${DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE:-sysvinit}
+case "${DIB_RELEASE}" in
+    hamm|slink|potato|woody|sarge|etch|lenny|squeeze|wheezy)
+        DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE=${DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE:-sysvinit}
+        ;;
+    *)
+        DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE=${DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE:-systemd-sysv}
+        ;;
+esac
 
 
 adduser --gecos Debian-cloud-init-user --disabled-password --quiet debian
@@ -32,9 +38,9 @@ chmod 0440 /etc/sudoers.d/debian-cloud-init
 if [ "$DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE" != "sysvinit" ]; then
     # To avoid a conflict against an essential package, we need to remove sysvinit first
     dpkg --purge --force remove-essential sysvinit
-    apt-get install -y $apt_get_bp_extra_opts $DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE
-    printf \"Package: sysvinit\nPin: origin ""\nPin-Priority: -1\n\" > \
-        /etc/apt/preferences.d/sysvinit > /etc/apt/preferences.d/sysvinit
+    apt-get install -y $DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE
+    printf "Package: sysvinit\nPin: origin \"\"\nPin-Priority: -1\n" > \
+        /etc/apt/preferences.d/sysvinit
 fi
 
 case "${DIB_RELEASE}" in
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/default_deb_init_per_release-f5a7451b0c2704c9.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/default_deb_init_per_release-f5a7451b0c2704c9.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f1928996
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/default_deb_init_per_release-f5a7451b0c2704c9.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+
+other:
+  - |
+    Value of ``DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE`` has been switched to
+    ``systemd-sysv`` for Debian releases older then Jessie.
+    If you still need to build a version of Debian that is relying
+    on ``sysvinit`` please override the ``DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE``
+    variable for that.