diff --git a/build_packages b/build_packages
index 6579c58154..23722d68dd 100755
--- a/build_packages
+++ b/build_packages
@@ -222,8 +222,6 @@ break_dep_loop sys-apps/util-linux udev,systemd sys-apps/systemd cryptsetup
 break_dep_loop sys-apps/systemd cryptsetup
 
 info "Merging board packages now"
-# The following line is required by chroots present in "update-bootengine"
-setup_qemu_static "${BOARD_ROOT}"
 sudo -E "${EMERGE_CMD[@]}" "${EMERGE_FLAGS[@]}" \
     @system coreos-devel/board-packages
 
diff --git a/setup_board b/setup_board
index 755c6b3b63..725901954f 100755
--- a/setup_board
+++ b/setup_board
@@ -317,3 +317,6 @@ if [ -n "${WORKING_ON}" ]; then
   info "Currently working on the following ebuilds for this board:"
   info "${WORKING_ON}"
 fi
+
+# Setup BOARD_ROOT for QEMU user emulation.
+setup_qemu_static "${BOARD_ROOT}"