diff --git a/image.py b/image.py
index db24d77..6b2bf0e 100644
--- a/image.py
+++ b/image.py
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ import subprocess
 import click
 import logging
 
-from binfmt import register as binfmt_register
 from chroot import Chroot, get_device_chroot
 from constants import BASE_PACKAGES, DEVICES, FLAVOURS
 from config import config
 from distro import get_base_distro, get_kupfer_https, get_kupfer_local
+from packages import build_enable_qemu_binfmt
 from ssh import copy_ssh_keys
 from wrapper import enforce_wrap
 from signal import pause
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ def cmd_build():
     arch = 'aarch64'
     sector_size = 4096
 
-    binfmt_register(arch)
+    build_enable_qemu_binfmt(arch)
 
     packages_dir = config.get_package_dir(arch)
     if os.path.exists(os.path.join(packages_dir, 'main')):
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ def cmd_inspect(shell: bool = False):
     if shell:
         chroot.initialized = True
         chroot.activate()
-        binfmt_register(arch)
+        build_enable_qemu_binfmt(arch)
         chroot.run_cmd('/bin/bash')
     else:
         pause()
diff --git a/packages.py b/packages.py
index 830374b..69631a3 100644
--- a/packages.py
+++ b/packages.py
@@ -578,6 +578,29 @@ def build_packages_by_paths(
     )
 
 
+def build_enable_qemu_binfmt(arch: Arch, repo: dict[str, Package] = None):
+    if arch not in ARCHES:
+        raise Exception(f'Unknown architecture "{arch}". Choices: {", ".join(ARCHES)}')
+    enforce_wrap()
+    if not repo:
+        repo = discover_packages()
+    native = config.runtime['arch']
+    # build qemu-user, binfmt, crossdirect
+    chroot = setup_build_chroot(native)
+    logging.info('Installing qemu-user (building if necessary)')
+    build_packages_by_paths(
+        ['cross/' + pkg for pkg in CROSSDIRECT_PKGS],
+        native,
+        repo,
+        enable_crosscompile=False,
+        enable_crossdirect=False,
+        enable_ccache=False,
+    )
+    subprocess.run(['pacman', '-Syy', '--noconfirm', '--needed', '--config', os.path.join(chroot.path, 'etc/pacman.conf')] + QEMU_BINFMT_PKGS)
+    if arch != native:
+        binfmt_register(arch)
+
+
 @click.group(name='packages')
 def cmd_packages():
     pass
@@ -607,20 +630,8 @@ def build(paths: list[str], force: bool, arch: Arch):
         raise Exception(f'Unknown architecture "{arch}". Choices: {", ".join(ARCHES)}')
     enforce_wrap()
     repo: dict[str, Package] = discover_packages()
-    native = config.runtime['arch']
-    if arch != native:
-        # build qemu-user, binfmt, crossdirect
-        chroot = setup_build_chroot(native)
-        build_packages_by_paths(
-            ['cross/' + pkg for pkg in CROSSDIRECT_PKGS],
-            native,
-            repo,
-            enable_crosscompile=False,
-            enable_crossdirect=False,
-            enable_ccache=False,
-        )
-        subprocess.run(['pacman', '-Syy', '--noconfirm', '--needed', '--config', os.path.join(chroot.path, 'etc/pacman.conf')] + QEMU_BINFMT_PKGS)
-        binfmt_register(arch)
+    if arch != config.runtime['arch']:
+        build_enable_qemu_binfmt(arch, repo=repo)
 
     return build_packages_by_paths(
         paths,