diff --git a/pkg/daemon/update.go b/pkg/daemon/update.go
index 70202a0845..f8fb914bd4 100644
--- a/pkg/daemon/update.go
+++ b/pkg/daemon/update.go
@@ -680,8 +680,9 @@ func newMachineConfigDiff(oldConfig, newConfig *mcfgv1.MachineConfig) (*machineC
 	kargsEmpty := len(oldConfig.Spec.KernelArguments) == 0 && len(newConfig.Spec.KernelArguments) == 0
 	extensionsEmpty := len(oldConfig.Spec.Extensions) == 0 && len(newConfig.Spec.Extensions) == 0
 
+	force := forceFileExists()
 	return &machineConfigDiff{
-		osUpdate:   oldConfig.Spec.OSImageURL != newConfig.Spec.OSImageURL,
+		osUpdate:   oldConfig.Spec.OSImageURL != newConfig.Spec.OSImageURL || force,
 		kargs:      !(kargsEmpty || reflect.DeepEqual(oldConfig.Spec.KernelArguments, newConfig.Spec.KernelArguments)),
 		fips:       oldConfig.Spec.FIPS != newConfig.Spec.FIPS,
 		passwd:     !reflect.DeepEqual(oldIgn.Passwd, newIgn.Passwd),