diff --git a/release/tools/vmimage.subr b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
--- a/release/tools/vmimage.subr
+++ b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
 
 	if [ -z "${NOPKGBASE}" ]; then
 		local pkg_cmd
-		pkg_cmd="pkg --rootdir ${DESTDIR} --repo-conf-dir ${PKGBASE_REPO_DIR}
+		pkg_cmd="${PKG_CMD} --rootdir ${DESTDIR} --repo-conf-dir ${PKGBASE_REPO_DIR}
 			-o ASSUME_ALWAYS_YES=yes -o IGNORE_OSVERSION=yes
 			-o ABI=${PKG_ABI} -o INSTALL_AS_USER=yes "
 		if [ -n "${NO_ROOT}" ]; then