diff --git a/config/runtime/base/kubernetes.jinja2 b/config/runtime/base/kubernetes.jinja2
index bb31b36c1b..0f872e6efa 100644
--- a/config/runtime/base/kubernetes.jinja2
+++ b/config/runtime/base/kubernetes.jinja2
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ spec:
 
       containers:
       - name: kernelci
-        image: ghcr.io/{{ runtime_image }}
+        image: {{ runtime_image }}
         imagePullPolicy: Always
 
         volumeMounts:
diff --git a/kernelci/runtime/__init__.py b/kernelci/runtime/__init__.py
index b3ec8462f5..48a178c41b 100644
--- a/kernelci/runtime/__init__.py
+++ b/kernelci/runtime/__init__.py
@@ -123,6 +123,25 @@ def match(self, filter_data):
         """Apply filters and return True if they match, False otherwise."""
         return self.config.match(filter_data)
 
+    def get_docker_name(self, param):
+        """Get the docker image name with the correct prefix"""
+        instance = os.getenv('KCI_INSTANCE', 'prod')
+        if instance != 'prod':
+            # if we dont have '/' in the image name, we add the ghcr.io/ prefix
+            if '/' not in param:
+                imageurl = f'ghcr.io/kernelci/staging-{param}'
+            else:
+                # we need split image name and path
+                prefix = param.rsplit('/', 1)[0]
+                imagename = param.rsplit('/', 1)[1]
+                imageurl = f'{prefix}/staging-{imagename}'
+        else:
+            if '/' not in param:
+                imageurl = f'ghcr.io/kernelci/{param}'
+            else:
+                imageurl = param
+        return imageurl
+
     def get_params(self, job, api_config=None):
         """Get job template parameters"""
         instanceid = os.environ.get('KCI_INSTANCE')
@@ -147,6 +166,9 @@ def get_params(self, job, api_config=None):
                 if not device_dtb:
                     print(f"dtb file {job.platform_config.dtb} not found!")
                     return None
+
+        imageurl = self.get_docker_name(job.config.params.get('image'))
+
         params = {
             'api_config': api_config or {},
             'storage_config': job.storage_config or {},
@@ -156,7 +178,7 @@ def get_params(self, job, api_config=None):
             'name': job.name,
             'node': job.node,
             'runtime': self.config.lab_type,
-            'runtime_image': job.config.image,
+            'runtime_image': imageurl,
         }
         if job.platform_config.params:
             params.update(job.platform_config.params)