diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.prepare b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.prepare
index 76f67c14e5..052ce92865 100755
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.prepare
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.prepare
@@ -17,14 +17,16 @@ for PACKAGE in "${PACKAGES[@]}"; do
             sed --quiet 's/^Depends On *: //p' # Filter out everything except "Depends On:" line and fetch dependencies from it.
     )"
 
-    DEPS="$DEPS $(
-        pacman --sync --info "$PACKAGE" |
-            sed '1,/^$/d' | # Only keep result from first repository (delete everything after first blank line).
-            sed --quiet '/Optional Deps/,/Conflicts With/{/Conflicts With/!p}' | # Get every line from "Optional Deps" (inclusive) until "Conflicts With" (exclusive).
-            sed 's/Optional Deps *: //' | # Drop "Optional Deps :" from first line.
-            sed 's/ *\(.*\):.*/\1/' | # Drop descriptions (everything after first colon for all lines).
-            tr '\n' ' ' # Transform newlines to whitespace.
-    )"
+    if ! ((SYSTEMD_REQUIRED_DEPS_ONLY)); then
+        DEPS="$DEPS $(
+            pacman --sync --info "$PACKAGE" |
+                sed '1,/^$/d' | # Only keep result from first repository (delete everything after first blank line).
+                sed --quiet '/Optional Deps/,/Conflicts With/{/Conflicts With/!p}' | # Get every line from "Optional Deps" (inclusive) until "Conflicts With" (exclusive).
+                sed 's/Optional Deps *: //' | # Drop "Optional Deps :" from first line.
+                sed 's/ *\(.*\):.*/\1/' | # Drop descriptions (everything after first colon for all lines).
+                tr '\n' ' ' # Transform newlines to whitespace.
+        )"
+    fi
 done
 
 echo "$DEPS" |
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.prepare b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.prepare
index 1e5bd21995..9e5185bbc6 100755
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.prepare
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.prepare
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@ fi
 
 mapfile -t PACKAGES < <(jq --raw-output .VolatilePackages[] <"$MKOSI_CONFIG")
 
-for DEPS in --requires --recommends --suggests; do
+DEP_TYPES=(--requires)
+if ! ((SYSTEMD_REQUIRED_DEPS_ONLY)); then
+    DEP_TYPES+=(--recommends --suggests)
+fi
+
+for DEPS in "${DEP_TYPES[@]}"; do
     # We need --latest-limit=1 to only consider the newest version of the packages.
     # --latest-limit=1 is per <name>.<arch> so we have to pass --arch= explicitly to make sure i686 packages
     # are not considered on x86-64.
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu/mkosi.prepare b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu/mkosi.prepare
index bf2c5eb91f..22be35f823 100755
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu/mkosi.prepare
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu/mkosi.prepare
@@ -22,9 +22,14 @@ for PACKAGE in "${PACKAGES[@]}"; do
     # Get all the dependencies of the systemd packages including recommended and suggested dependencies.
     PATTERNS+=(
         "?and(?reverse-depends(?exact-name($PACKAGE)), $COMMON)"
-        "?and(?reverse-recommends(?exact-name($PACKAGE)), $COMMON)"
-        "?and(?reverse-suggests(?exact-name($PACKAGE)), $COMMON)"
     )
+
+    if ! ((SYSTEMD_REQUIRED_DEPS_ONLY)); then
+        PATTERNS+=(
+            "?and(?reverse-recommends(?exact-name($PACKAGE)), $COMMON)"
+            "?and(?reverse-suggests(?exact-name($PACKAGE)), $COMMON)"
+        )
+    fi
 done
 
 mkosi-install "${PATTERNS[@]}"
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.prepare b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.prepare
index 728b502b13..32a9312d29 100755
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.prepare
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.prepare
@@ -9,11 +9,15 @@ fi
 mapfile -t PACKAGES < <(jq --raw-output .VolatilePackages[] <"$MKOSI_CONFIG")
 
 DEPS=""
+DEP_TYPES=(--requires)
+if ! ((SYSTEMD_REQUIRED_DEPS_ONLY)); then
+    DEP_TYPES+=(--recommends --suggests)
+fi
 
 for PACKAGE in "${PACKAGES[@]}"; do
     # zypper's output is not machine readable so we make do with sed instead.
     DEPS="$DEPS\n$(
-        zypper info --requires --recommends --suggests "$PACKAGE" |
+        zypper info "${DEP_TYPES[@]}" "$PACKAGE" |
             sed '/Requires/,$!d' | # Remove everything before Requires line
             sed --quiet 's/^    //p' # All indented lines have dependencies
     )"
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf
index 8d8b7e9761..4a811e15e2 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 [Output]
 Format=directory
 
+[Build]
+Environment=SYSTEMD_REQUIRED_DEPS_ONLY=1
+
 [Content]
 Bootable=no
 Locale=C.UTF-8
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
index b5f3194a84..8ccf722238 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 Distribution=arch
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.prepare
 VolatilePackages=
         systemd
         systemd-libs
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
index a1fa32b786..1665f8b471 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
@@ -5,5 +5,6 @@ Distribution=|centos
 Distribution=|fedora
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.prepare
 VolatilePackages=
         systemd-standalone-shutdown
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf
index 6ca310cbc2..c745a1a1d3 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian.conf
@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@
 Distribution=debian
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu/mkosi.prepare
 VolatilePackages=
         systemd-standalone-shutdown
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
index 37f6220ea0..7acc481389 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 Distribution=opensuse
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         diffutils
         grep
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu.conf
index 9a7e1d8cbb..742d998504 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/exitrd/mkosi.conf.d/ubuntu.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 Distribution=ubuntu
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu/mkosi.prepare
 VolatilePackages=
         libsystemd-shared
         libsystemd0
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf
index b54fe2daf4..2b731d4397 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ Include=
         %D/mkosi/mkosi.sanitizers
         %D/mkosi/mkosi.coverage
 
+[Build]
+Environment=SYSTEMD_REQUIRED_DEPS_ONLY=1
+
 [Content]
 ExtraTrees=%D/mkosi/mkosi.extra.common
 
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
index 99e039d1dc..74f4bee9c9 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 Distribution=arch
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         btrfs-progs
         tpm2-tools
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 5c84cc4cd4..de1c8947a2 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora.conf
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Distribution=|centos
 Distribution=|fedora
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         tpm2-tools
 
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu.conf
index 577bf8f59f..b2fb3a06cb 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu.conf
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Distribution=|debian
 Distribution=|ubuntu
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         btrfs-progs
         tpm2-tools
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
index deaa273b4d..18142a6dbd 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/initrd/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 Distribution=opensuse
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         btrfs-progs
         kmod
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf
index b51ac638d6..be80db6cc1 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 [Output]
 Format=directory
 
+[Build]
+Environment=SYSTEMD_REQUIRED_DEPS_ONLY=1
+
 [Content]
 Bootable=no
 Locale=C.UTF-8
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 044199a6c1..070506b8f5 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/arch.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 Distribution=arch
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/arch/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         inetutils
         iproute
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 e9893ad989..6d4caebef4 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
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Distribution=|centos
 Distribution=|fedora
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/centos-fedora/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         hostname
         iproute
diff --git a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu.conf b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu.conf
index d524ec17fe..ddf1a18807 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu.conf
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Distribution=|debian
 Distribution=|ubuntu
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/debian-ubuntu/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         hostname
         iproute2
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 3d891b8ed0..4f96c7d34b 100644
--- a/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
+++ b/mkosi/mkosi.images/minimal-base/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 Distribution=opensuse
 
 [Content]
+PrepareScripts=%D/mkosi/mkosi.conf.d/opensuse/mkosi.prepare
 Packages=
         diffutils
         grep