diff --git a/kiwi/boot/image/builtin_kiwi.py b/kiwi/boot/image/builtin_kiwi.py
index 6167ad5..5811a96 100644
--- a/kiwi/boot/image/builtin_kiwi.py
+++ b/kiwi/boot/image/builtin_kiwi.py
@@ -113,9 +113,14 @@ class BootImageKiwi(BootImageBase):
                 Defaults.get_profile_file(self.boot_root_directory)
             )
             self.setup.import_description()
-            self.setup.import_overlay_files(
-                follow_links=True
-            )
+            if self.runtime_config.get_custom_hw_systemflag():
+                self.setup.import_overlay_files(
+                    follow_links=False
+                )
+            else:
+                self.setup.import_overlay_files(
+                    follow_links=True
+                )
             self.setup.call_config_script()
 
             system.pinch_system(
-- 
2.39.1