diff --git a/mkosi.presets/initrd/mkosi.conf b/mkosi.presets/initrd/mkosi.conf
index 78d55ba7cb6..6099e2e3e16 100644
--- a/mkosi.presets/initrd/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi.presets/initrd/mkosi.conf
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ BaseTrees=../../mkosi.output/base
 ExtraTrees=../../mkosi.output/base-systemd
 MakeInitrd=yes
 Packages=
+        gzip
         systemd
         udev
 
diff --git a/mkosi.presets/system/mkosi.conf b/mkosi.presets/system/mkosi.conf
index 2474d7f847b..935cea4d3b0 100644
--- a/mkosi.presets/system/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi.presets/system/mkosi.conf
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Packages=
         gcc # Sanitizer libraries
         gdb
         grep
+        gzip
         kbd
         kexec-tools
         less