diff --git a/release/scripts/mk-vmimage.sh b/release/scripts/mk-vmimage.sh
index 0dd330fa98d..7df7e3d10fb 100755
--- a/release/scripts/mk-vmimage.sh
+++ b/release/scripts/mk-vmimage.sh
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ main() {
 				VMFORMAT="${OPTARG}"
 				;;
 			i)
-				VMBASE="${VMBASE}"
+				VMBASE="${OPTARG}"
 				;;
 			o)
 				VMIMAGE="${OPTARG}"
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ main() {
 		. "${VMCONFIG}"
 	fi
 
+	vm_create_base
 	vm_install_base
 	vm_extra_install_base
 	vm_extra_install_packages