diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/rocky-container/containerfiles/8 b/diskimage_builder/elements/rocky-container/containerfiles/8
index e619137f..d3dd68e8 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/rocky-container/containerfiles/8
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/rocky-container/containerfiles/8
@@ -5,3 +5,8 @@ RUN dnf install -y findutils util-linux sudo python3 NetworkManager
 RUN systemctl unmask console-getty.service dev-hugepages.mount \
     getty.target sys-fs-fuse-connections.mount systemd-logind.service \
     systemd-remount-fs.service
+
+# /etc/machine-id needs to be populated for /bin/kernel-install to
+# correctly copy kernels into /boot.  We will clear this out in the
+# final image.
+RUN systemd-machine-id-setup