diff --git a/release/tools/vmimage.subr b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
--- a/release/tools/vmimage.subr
+++ b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 	# Installs the FreeBSD userland/kernel to the virtual machine disk.
 
 	cd ${WORLDDIR} && \
-		make DESTDIR=${DESTDIR} \
+		make DESTDIR=${DESTDIR} ${INSTALLOPTS} \
 		installworld installkernel distribution || \
 		err "\n\nCannot install the base system to ${DESTDIR}."