diff --git a/sdk_container/src/third_party/coreos-overlay/profiles/coreos/base/package.use b/sdk_container/src/third_party/coreos-overlay/profiles/coreos/base/package.use
index c3020e8d16..7b1884c227 100644
--- a/sdk_container/src/third_party/coreos-overlay/profiles/coreos/base/package.use
+++ b/sdk_container/src/third_party/coreos-overlay/profiles/coreos/base/package.use
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ net-analyzer/nmap ncat -lua
 # removes mta dependencies
 app-admin/sudo -sendmail
 
-# avoid pulling in gnutls
-sys-apps/systemd -ssl vanilla
+# avoid pulling in gnutls, disable gentoo-only bits, enable journal upload
+sys-apps/systemd -ssl curl vanilla
 
 # disable kernel config detection and module building
 net-firewall/ipset -modules