diff --git a/release/tools/vmimage.subr b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
--- a/release/tools/vmimage.subr
+++ b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
@@ -240,9 +240,10 @@
 			>> ${DESTDIR}/etc/fstab
 	fi
 
+	# Use makefs, matching default newfs settings + softupdates
 	echo "Building filesystem...  Please wait."
 	makefs ${MAKEFSARGS} -o label=rootfs -o version=2 -o softupdates=1 \
-	    -s ${VMSIZE} ${VMBASE} ${DESTDIR}
+	    -o density=8192 -s ${VMSIZE} ${VMBASE} ${DESTDIR}
 
 	echo "Building final disk image...  Please wait."
 	mkimg -s ${PARTSCHEME} -f ${VMFORMAT} \