diff --git a/build_image b/build_image
index 3b67a9e059..32fcccc377 100755
--- a/build_image
+++ b/build_image
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ if should_build_image ${CHROMEOS_FACTORY_INSTALL_SHIM_NAME}; then
   # network, so we don't require initramfs, but we do require fbconsole to fix
   # a display driver bug.
   if [ "${ARCH}" = "x86" -o "${ARCH}" = "amd64" ] ; then
-    export USE="${USE} initramfs"
+    export USE="${USE} initramfs vfat"
   fi
   # CONFIG_BLK_DEV_RAM is disabled by default.
   # But tftp install needs it to mount rootfs in ram
diff --git a/mod_image_for_recovery.sh b/mod_image_for_recovery.sh
index fd6c74c866..10df9a95d7 100755
--- a/mod_image_for_recovery.sh
+++ b/mod_image_for_recovery.sh
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ fi
 
 # Build the recovery kernel.
 FACTORY_ROOT="${BOARD_ROOT}/factory-root"
-USE="fbconsole initramfs" emerge_custom_kernel "$FACTORY_ROOT" ||
+USE="fbconsole initramfs vfat" emerge_custom_kernel "$FACTORY_ROOT" ||
   failboat "Cannot emerge custom kernel"
 
 if [ -z "$FLAGS_kernel_image" ]; then