diff --git a/man/kernel-install.xml b/man/kernel-install.xml
index 83255bb932..bb76074d2e 100644
--- a/man/kernel-install.xml
+++ b/man/kernel-install.xml
@@ -171,11 +171,15 @@
     <para><varname>KERNEL_INSTALL_BOOT_ROOT=</varname> is set for the plugins to the root directory (mount point, usually) of the hierarchy
     where boot-loader entries, kernel images, and associated resources should be placed. Can be overridden by setting <varname>BOOT_ROOT=</varname>.</para>
 
-    <para><varname>KERNEL_INSTALL_LAYOUT=bls|other|...</varname> specifies the installation layout.
+    <para><varname>KERNEL_INSTALL_LAYOUT=bls|other|...</varname> is set for the plugins to specify the installation layout.
     Defaults to <option>bls</option> if <filename>$BOOT/<replaceable>MACHINE-ID</replaceable></filename> exists, or <option>other</option> otherwise.
     Additional layout names may be defined by convention. If a plugin uses a special layout,
     it's encouraged to declare its own layout name and configure <varname>layout=</varname> in <filename>install.conf</filename> upon initial installation.</para>
 
+    <para><varname>KERNEL_INSTALL_INITRD_GENERATOR=...</varname> is set for plugins to select the initrd generator.
+    This should be configured as <varname>initrd_generator=</varname> in <filename>install.conf</filename>.
+    </para>
+
     <variablelist>
       <varlistentry>
         <term>bls</term>
diff --git a/src/kernel-install/install.conf b/src/kernel-install/install.conf
index e4802e6fae..43b6e7d792 100644
--- a/src/kernel-install/install.conf
+++ b/src/kernel-install/install.conf
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@
 # See kernel-install(8) for details.
 
 #layout=bls|other|...
+#initrd_generator=dracut|...
diff --git a/src/kernel-install/kernel-install b/src/kernel-install/kernel-install
index e56483ef96..fe457c1070 100755
--- a/src/kernel-install/kernel-install
+++ b/src/kernel-install/kernel-install
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ fi
 KERNEL_VERSION="$1"
 shift
 
+layout=
+initrd_generator=
+
 if [ -r "/etc/kernel/install.conf" ]; then
     . /etc/kernel/install.conf
 elif [ -r "/usr/lib/kernel/install.conf" ]; then
@@ -123,12 +126,12 @@ if [ -z "$layout" ]; then
     fi
 fi
 
-
 ENTRY_DIR_ABS="$BOOT_ROOT/$MACHINE_ID/$KERNEL_VERSION"
 
 export KERNEL_INSTALL_MACHINE_ID="$MACHINE_ID"
 export KERNEL_INSTALL_BOOT_ROOT="$BOOT_ROOT"
 export KERNEL_INSTALL_LAYOUT="$layout"
+export KERNEL_INSTALL_INITRD_GENERATOR="$initrd_generator"
 
 [ "$layout" = "bls" ]
 MAKE_ENTRY_DIR_ABS=$?