diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/image_types_wic.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/image_types_wic.bbclass
index 86f40633eb..e02eb0b367 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/image_types_wic.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/image_types_wic.bbclass
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ WKS_FILE_DEPENDS_DEFAULT = '${@bb.utils.contains_any("BUILD_ARCH", [ 'x86_64', '
 WKS_FILE_DEPENDS_DEFAULT += "bmaptool-native cdrtools-native btrfs-tools-native squashfs-tools-native e2fsprogs-native erofs-utils-native"
 # Unified kernel images need objcopy
 WKS_FILE_DEPENDS_DEFAULT += "virtual/${TARGET_PREFIX}binutils"
-WKS_FILE_DEPENDS_BOOTLOADERS = ""
+WKS_FILE_DEPENDS_BOOTLOADERS ?= "systemd-boot os-release"
 WKS_FILE_DEPENDS_BOOTLOADERS:x86 = "syslinux grub-efi systemd-boot os-release"
 WKS_FILE_DEPENDS_BOOTLOADERS:x86-64 = "syslinux grub-efi systemd-boot os-release"
 WKS_FILE_DEPENDS_BOOTLOADERS:x86-x32 = "syslinux grub-efi"