diff --git a/internal/blueprint/blueprint.go b/internal/blueprint/blueprint.go
index c090d9a08..bb4d60e2a 100644
--- a/internal/blueprint/blueprint.go
+++ b/internal/blueprint/blueprint.go
@@ -103,6 +103,14 @@ func (b *Blueprint) GetPackages() []string {
 	for _, group := range b.Groups {
 		packages = append(packages, "@"+group.Name)
 	}
+
+	if kc := b.Customizations.GetKernel(); kc != nil && kc.Name != "" {
+		kpkg := Package{Name: b.Customizations.Kernel.Name}
+		packages = append(packages, kpkg.ToNameVersion())
+	} else { // no Kernel specified; add default
+		kpkg := Package{Name: "kernel"}
+		packages = append(packages, kpkg.ToNameVersion())
+	}
 	return packages
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/blueprint/customizations.go b/internal/blueprint/customizations.go
index b94ab798b..f6867d7e0 100644
--- a/internal/blueprint/customizations.go
+++ b/internal/blueprint/customizations.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ type Customizations struct {
 }
 
 type KernelCustomization struct {
+	Name   string `json:"name,omitempty" toml:"name,omitempty"`
 	Append string `json:"append" toml:"append"`
 }