diff --git a/ci-automation/vms.sh b/ci-automation/vms.sh
index fde09881d7..3c7dd0137e 100644
--- a/ci-automation/vms.sh
+++ b/ci-automation/vms.sh
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ function vm_build() {
     [[ ${has_packet} -eq 1 ]] && [[ ${has_pxe} -eq 0 ]] && set -- 'pxe' "${@}"
 
     for format; do
+        # keep compatibility with SDK scripts where "equinix_metal"
+        # remains unknown.
+        [ "${format}" = "equinix_metal" ] && format="packet"
         echo " ###################  VENDOR '${format}' ################### "
         ./run_sdk_container -n "${vms_container}" -C "${image_image}" \
             -v "${vernum}" \