diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.conf
index 61de80cd3b6..a450a1c2159 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ Packages=
         attr
         bash-completion
         binutils
-        coreutils
         curl
         diffutils
         dnsmasq
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.conf
index 025ef065032..2a1471864ea 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.conf
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Packages=
         bind
         bpf
         btrfs-progs
+        coreutils
         cryptsetup
         dbus-broker
         dbus-broker-units
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.conf
index 01f93e44bf7..d89b541171e 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.conf
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ VolatilePackages=
 Packages=
         bind-utils
         bpftool
+        coreutils
         cryptsetup
         device-mapper-event
         device-mapper-multipath
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian/mkosi.conf
index c960a1b2ecd..f0ecec311a8 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian/mkosi.conf
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ Release=testing
 
 [Content]
 Packages=
+        coreutils
         linux-perf
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.conf
index c1b48d14e50..850ac6a7fe1 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.conf
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ Packages=
         bind-utils
         bpftool
         btrfs-progs
+        coreutils
         cryptsetup
         device-mapper
         dhcp-server
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..86d4d1132b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+# avoid pulling in the uutils package which is the default and is broken in several ways
+
+[TriggerMatch]
+Distribution=ubuntu
+Release=!jammy
+Release=!noble
+
+[Content]
+Packages=
+        coreutils-from-gnu
+        coreutils-from-uutils-
+        rust-coreutils-
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b680604f001
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+[TriggerMatch]
+Distribution=ubuntu
+Release=jammy
+Release=noble
+
+[Content]
+Packages=
+        coreutils
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf
index 2b731d4397e..e2cced71c04 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ Environment=SYSTEMD_REQUIRED_DEPS_ONLY=1
 ExtraTrees=%D/mkosi/mkosi.extra.common
 
 Packages=
-        coreutils
         findutils
         grep
         sed
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
index 909426a09cc..72043184025 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Distribution=arch
 PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/systemd.prepare
 Packages=
         btrfs-progs
+        coreutils
         tpm2-tools
 
 VolatilePackages=
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
index 1a971625bfe..faffe238a94 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Distribution=|fedora
 [Content]
 PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/systemd.prepare
 Packages=
+        coreutils
         tpm2-tools
 
 VolatilePackages=
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eed9f5d6d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+[Match]
+Distribution=debian
+
+[Content]
+Packages=
+        coreutils
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
index 93083957635..92fc255670f 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Distribution=opensuse
 PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/systemd.prepare
 Packages=
         btrfs-progs
+        coreutils
         kmod
         tpm2.0-tools
 
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b9fd7bcf342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+[Match]
+Distribution=ubuntu
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..86d4d1132b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+# avoid pulling in the uutils package which is the default and is broken in several ways
+
+[TriggerMatch]
+Distribution=ubuntu
+Release=!jammy
+Release=!noble
+
+[Content]
+Packages=
+        coreutils-from-gnu
+        coreutils-from-uutils-
+        rust-coreutils-
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b680604f001
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+[TriggerMatch]
+Distribution=ubuntu
+Release=jammy
+Release=noble
+
+[Content]
+Packages=
+        coreutils
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf
index 8e57cd032df..60c6b4cc711 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ CleanPackageMetadata=yes
 
 Packages=
         bash
-        coreutils
         grep
         socat
         util-linux
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
index 6d77d2305d1..ce62ded2943 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Distribution=arch
 [Content]
 PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/systemd.prepare
 Packages=
+        coreutils
         inetutils
         iproute
         nmap
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
index 53cc68d7947..ac951fbf60f 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Distribution=|fedora
 [Content]
 PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/systemd.prepare
 Packages=
+        coreutils
         hostname
         iproute
         iproute-tc
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eed9f5d6d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+[Match]
+Distribution=debian
+
+[Content]
+Packages=
+        coreutils
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
index 8b38a769a1e..ebf55a3188a 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Distribution=opensuse
 [Content]
 PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/systemd.prepare
 Packages=
+        coreutils
         diffutils
         grep
         hostname
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b9fd7bcf342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+[Match]
+Distribution=ubuntu
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..86d4d1132b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils-gnu.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+# avoid pulling in the uutils package which is the default and is broken in several ways
+
+[TriggerMatch]
+Distribution=ubuntu
+Release=!jammy
+Release=!noble
+
+[Content]
+Packages=
+        coreutils-from-gnu
+        coreutils-from-uutils-
+        rust-coreutils-
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b680604f001
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu/mkosi.conf.d/coreutils.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+[TriggerMatch]
+Distribution=ubuntu
+Release=jammy
+Release=noble
+
+[Content]
+Packages=
+        coreutils