diff --git a/internal/image/image_installer.go b/internal/image/image_installer.go
index fc7babab1..da7117fbb 100644
--- a/internal/image/image_installer.go
+++ b/internal/image/image_installer.go
@@ -116,11 +116,9 @@ func (img *ImageInstaller) InstantiateManifest(m *manifest.Manifest,
 	bootTreePipeline.UEFIVendor = img.Platform.GetUEFIVendor()
 	bootTreePipeline.ISOLabel = isoLabel
 
-	kernelOpts := make([]string, 0)
+	kernelOpts := []string{fmt.Sprintf("inst.stage2=hd:LABEL=%s", isoLabel)}
 	if img.ISORootKickstart {
 		kernelOpts = append(kernelOpts, fmt.Sprintf("inst.ks=hd:LABEL=%s:%s", isoLabel, kspath))
-	} else {
-		kernelOpts = append(kernelOpts, fmt.Sprintf("inst.stage2=hd:LABEL=%s", isoLabel))
 	}
 	kernelOpts = append(kernelOpts, img.AdditionalKernelOpts...)
 	bootTreePipeline.KernelOpts = kernelOpts
diff --git a/internal/image/ostree_installer.go b/internal/image/ostree_installer.go
index 4df91ca34..6639a0a1c 100644
--- a/internal/image/ostree_installer.go
+++ b/internal/image/ostree_installer.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func (img *OSTreeInstaller) InstantiateManifest(m *manifest.Manifest,
 	bootTreePipeline.Platform = img.Platform
 	bootTreePipeline.UEFIVendor = img.Platform.GetUEFIVendor()
 	bootTreePipeline.ISOLabel = isoLabel
-	bootTreePipeline.KernelOpts = []string{fmt.Sprintf("inst.ks=hd:LABEL=%s:%s", isoLabel, kspath)}
+	bootTreePipeline.KernelOpts = []string{fmt.Sprintf("inst.stage2=hd:LABEL=%s", isoLabel), fmt.Sprintf("inst.ks=hd:LABEL=%s:%s", isoLabel, kspath)}
 
 	isoTreePipeline := manifest.NewAnacondaISOTree(m,
 		buildPipeline,
diff --git a/internal/manifest/efi_boot_tree.go b/internal/manifest/efi_boot_tree.go
index 90e21f78b..61bd170fe 100644
--- a/internal/manifest/efi_boot_tree.go
+++ b/internal/manifest/efi_boot_tree.go
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@ func (p *EFIBootTree) serialize() osbuild.Pipeline {
 		panic("unsupported architecture")
 	}
 
-	kernelOpts := []string{}
-	if len(p.KernelOpts) > 0 {
-		kernelOpts = append(kernelOpts, p.KernelOpts...)
-	}
-
 	grubOptions := &osbuild.GrubISOStageOptions{
 		Product: osbuild.Product{
 			Name:    p.product,
@@ -56,7 +51,7 @@ func (p *EFIBootTree) serialize() osbuild.Pipeline {
 		},
 		Kernel: osbuild.ISOKernel{
 			Dir:  "/images/pxeboot",
-			Opts: kernelOpts,
+			Opts: p.KernelOpts,
 		},
 		ISOLabel:      p.ISOLabel,
 		Architectures: architectures,
diff --git a/internal/manifest/iso_tree.go b/internal/manifest/iso_tree.go
index ac2a5b149..47557e0eb 100644
--- a/internal/manifest/iso_tree.go
+++ b/internal/manifest/iso_tree.go
@@ -112,10 +112,9 @@ func (p *AnacondaISOTree) serialize() osbuild.Pipeline {
 
 	kernelOpts := []string{}
 
+	kernelOpts = append(kernelOpts, fmt.Sprintf("inst.stage2=hd:LABEL=%s", p.isoLabel))
 	if p.KSPath != "" {
 		kernelOpts = append(kernelOpts, fmt.Sprintf("inst.ks=hd:LABEL=%s:%s", p.isoLabel, p.KSPath))
-	} else {
-		kernelOpts = append(kernelOpts, fmt.Sprintf("inst.stage2=hd:LABEL=%s", p.isoLabel))
 	}
 
 	if len(p.KernelOpts) > 0 {