diff --git a/mkosi.build b/mkosi.build
index 0178e78dc93..872841eb63e 100755
--- a/mkosi.build
+++ b/mkosi.build
@@ -25,3 +25,11 @@ make -j `nproc`
 
 make check
 make install
+
+mkdir -p $DESTDIR/etc
+
+cat > $DESTDIR/etc/issue <<EOF
+\S (built from systemd tree)
+Kernel \r on an \m (\l)
+
+EOF