diff --git a/meta/recipes-core/systemd/systemd-systemctl/systemctl b/meta/recipes-core/systemd/systemd-systemctl/systemctl
index cddae75a06..45b29671ee 100755
--- a/meta/recipes-core/systemd/systemd-systemctl/systemctl
+++ b/meta/recipes-core/systemd/systemd-systemctl/systemctl
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ def preset_all(root):
     # For the stateless configuration, where /etc is generated at runtime
     # (for example on a tmpfs), this script shouldn't run at all and we
     # allow systemd to completely populate /etc.
-    (root / SYSCONFDIR / "machine-id").touch()
+    (root / SYSCONFDIR / "machine-id").write_text("uninitialized")
 
 
 def main():