diff --git a/cloudinit/templater.py b/cloudinit/templater.py
index ed6b90634d0..7f9ab1d6379 100644
--- a/cloudinit/templater.py
+++ b/cloudinit/templater.py
@@ -160,11 +160,10 @@ def render_string(content, params):
     return renderer(content, params)
 
 
-def render_cloudcfg(variant, template, output):
-
+def render_cloudcfg(variant, template, output, prefix=None):
     with open(template, "r") as fh:
         contents = fh.read()
-    tpl_params = {"variant": variant}
+    tpl_params = {"variant": variant, "prefix": prefix}
     contents = (render_string(contents, tpl_params)).rstrip() + "\n"
     util.load_yaml(contents)
     if output == "-":
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index d0b1c996e33..a647f36c0d4 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 RENDERED_TMPD_PREFIX = "RENDERED_TEMPD"
 VARIANT = None
+PREFIX = None
 
 
 def is_f(p):
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ def render_tmpl(template, mode=None):
     that files are different outside of the debian directory."""
 
     # newer versions just use install.
-    if not (sys.argv[1] == "install"):
+    if not ("install" in sys.argv):
         return template
 
     tmpl_ext = ".tmpl"
@@ -114,23 +115,25 @@ def render_tmpl(template, mode=None):
     atexit.register(shutil.rmtree, tmpd)
     bname = os.path.basename(template).rstrip(tmpl_ext)
     fpath = os.path.join(tmpd, bname)
+    cmd_variant = []
+    cmd_prefix = []
     if VARIANT:
-        subprocess.run(
-            [
-                sys.executable,
-                "./tools/render-cloudcfg",
-                "--variant",
-                VARIANT,
-                template,
-                fpath,
-            ],
-            check=True,
-        )
-    else:
-        subprocess.run(
-            [sys.executable, "./tools/render-cloudcfg", template, fpath],
-            check=True,
-        )
+        cmd_variant = ["--variant", VARIANT]
+    if PREFIX:
+        cmd_prefix = ["--prefix", PREFIX]
+    subprocess.run(
+        [
+            sys.executable,
+            "./tools/render-cloudcfg",
+        ]
+        + cmd_prefix
+        + cmd_variant
+        + [
+            template,
+            fpath,
+        ],
+        check=True,
+    )
     if mode:
         os.chmod(fpath, mode)
     # return path relative to setup.py
@@ -138,16 +141,34 @@ def render_tmpl(template, mode=None):
 
 
 # User can set the variant for template rendering
-if "--distro" in sys.argv:
-    idx = sys.argv.index("--distro")
-    VARIANT = sys.argv[idx + 1]
-    del sys.argv[idx + 1]
-    sys.argv.remove("--distro")
+for a in sys.argv:
+    if a.startswith("--distro"):
+        idx = sys.argv.index(a)
+        if "=" in a:
+            _, VARIANT = a.split("=")
+            del sys.argv[idx]
+        else:
+            VARIANT = sys.argv[idx + 1]
+            del sys.argv[idx + 1]
+            sys.argv.remove("--distro")
+
+# parse PREFIX and pass it on from render_tmpl()
+for a in sys.argv:
+    if a.startswith("--prefix"):
+        idx = sys.argv.index(a)
+        if "=" in a:
+            _, PREFIX = a.split("=")
+        else:
+            PREFIX = sys.argv[idx + 1]
 
 INITSYS_FILES = {
     "sysvinit": [f for f in glob("sysvinit/redhat/*") if is_f(f)],
-    "sysvinit_freebsd": [f for f in glob("sysvinit/freebsd/*") if is_f(f)],
-    "sysvinit_netbsd": [f for f in glob("sysvinit/netbsd/*") if is_f(f)],
+    "sysvinit_freebsd": [
+        render_tmpl(f) for f in glob("sysvinit/freebsd/*") if is_f(f)
+    ],
+    "sysvinit_netbsd": [
+        render_tmpl(f) for f in glob("sysvinit/netbsd/*") if is_f(f)
+    ],
     "sysvinit_deb": [f for f in glob("sysvinit/debian/*") if is_f(f)],
     "sysvinit_openrc": [f for f in glob("sysvinit/gentoo/*") if is_f(f)],
     "systemd": [
@@ -355,6 +376,3 @@ def finalize_options(self):
         ],
     },
 )
-
-
-# vi: ts=4 expandtab
diff --git a/systemd/cloud-init-generator.tmpl b/systemd/cloud-init-generator.tmpl
index d71e3b899c7..b7fccf107fb 100644
--- a/systemd/cloud-init-generator.tmpl
+++ b/systemd/cloud-init-generator.tmpl
@@ -181,5 +181,3 @@ main() {
 }
 
 main "$@"
-
-# vi: ts=4 expandtab
diff --git a/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudconfig b/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudconfig.tmpl
similarity index 75%
rename from sysvinit/freebsd/cloudconfig
rename to sysvinit/freebsd/cloudconfig.tmpl
index bb4ec979235..17aa090f3cd 100755
--- a/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudconfig
+++ b/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudconfig.tmpl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+## template:jinja
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # PROVIDE: cloudconfig
@@ -6,21 +7,20 @@
 
 . /etc/rc.subr
 
-PATH="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
+PATH="{{ prefix }}/sbin:{{ prefix }}/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
 
 name="cloudconfig"
-command="/usr/local/bin/cloud-init"
+command="{{prefix}}/bin/cloud-init"
 start_cmd="cloudconfig_start"
 stop_cmd=":"
 rcvar="cloudinit_enable"
-start_cmd="cloudconfig_start"
 
 cloudconfig_start()
 {
     echo "${command} starting"
     if kenv -q kernel_options | grep -q 'cloud-init=disabled'; then
         warn "cloud-init is disabled via kernel_options."
-    elif test -e /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled; then
+    elif test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled; then
         warn "cloud-init is disabled via cloud-init.disabled file."
     else
         ${command} modules --mode config
diff --git a/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudfinal b/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudfinal.tmpl
similarity index 76%
rename from sysvinit/freebsd/cloudfinal
rename to sysvinit/freebsd/cloudfinal.tmpl
index 0a61c11dc72..7638fca7e68 100755
--- a/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudfinal
+++ b/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudfinal.tmpl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+## template:jinja
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # PROVIDE: cloudfinal
@@ -6,21 +7,20 @@
 
 . /etc/rc.subr
 
-PATH="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
+PATH="{{ prefix }}/sbin:{{ prefix }}/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
 
 name="cloudfinal"
-command="/usr/local/bin/cloud-init"
+command="{{prefix}}/bin/cloud-init"
 start_cmd="cloudfinal_start"
 stop_cmd=":"
 rcvar="cloudinit_enable"
-start_cmd="cloudfinal_start"
 
 cloudfinal_start()
 {
 	echo -n "${command} starting"
     if kenv -q kernel_options | grep -q 'cloud-init=disabled'; then
         warn "cloud-init is disabled via kernel_options."
-    elif test -e /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled; then
+    elif test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled; then
         warn "cloud-init is disabled via cloud-init.disabled file."
     else
         ${command} modules --mode final
diff --git a/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinit b/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinit.tmpl
similarity index 76%
rename from sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinit
rename to sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinit.tmpl
index 2e5a82b237e..b7277e06d76 100755
--- a/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinit
+++ b/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinit.tmpl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+## template:jinja
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # PROVIDE: cloudinit
@@ -6,21 +7,20 @@
 
 . /etc/rc.subr
 
-PATH="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
+PATH="{{ prefix }}/sbin:{{ prefix }}/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
 
 name="cloudinit"
-command="/usr/local/bin/cloud-init"
+command="{{prefix}}/bin/cloud-init"
 start_cmd="cloudinit_start"
 stop_cmd=":"
 rcvar="cloudinit_enable"
-start_cmd="cloudinit_start"
 
 cloudinit_start()
 {
     echo -n "${command} starting"
     if kenv -q kernel_options | grep -q 'cloud-init=disabled'; then
         warn "cloud-init is disabled via kernel_options."
-    elif test -e /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled; then
+    elif test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled; then
         warn "cloud-init is disabled via cloud-init.disabled file."
     else
         ${command} init
diff --git a/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinitlocal b/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinitlocal.tmpl
similarity index 60%
rename from sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinitlocal
rename to sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinitlocal.tmpl
index 87d8ee16f04..ec9b1fb8b82 100755
--- a/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinitlocal
+++ b/sysvinit/freebsd/cloudinitlocal.tmpl
@@ -1,26 +1,30 @@
+## template:jinja
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # PROVIDE: cloudinitlocal
-# REQUIRE: ldconfig mountcritlocal 
+{#
+``cloudinitlocal`` purposefully does not depend on ``dsidentify``.
+That makes it easy for image builders to create images without ``dsidentify``.
+#}
+# REQUIRE: ldconfig mountcritlocal
 # BEFORE:  NETWORKING cloudinit cloudconfig cloudfinal
 
 . /etc/rc.subr
 
-PATH="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
+PATH="{{ prefix }}/sbin:{{ prefix }}/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
 
 name="cloudinitlocal"
-command="/usr/local/bin/cloud-init"
+command="{{prefix}}/bin/cloud-init"
 start_cmd="cloudlocal_start"
 stop_cmd=":"
 rcvar="cloudinit_enable"
-start_cmd="cloudlocal_start"
 
 cloudlocal_start()
 {
     echo -n "${command} starting"
     if kenv -q kernel_options | grep -q 'cloud-init=disabled'; then
         warn "cloud-init is disabled via kernel_options."
-    elif test -e /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled; then
+    elif test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled; then
         warn "cloud-init is disabled via cloud-init.disabled file."
     else
         ${command} init --local
diff --git a/sysvinit/freebsd/dsidentify.tmpl b/sysvinit/freebsd/dsidentify.tmpl
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..9a00c663b10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sysvinit/freebsd/dsidentify.tmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+## template:jinja
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# PROVIDE: dsidentify
+{#
+once we are correctly using ``paths.run_dir`` / ``paths.get_runpath()`` in the
+python code-base, we can start thinking about how to bring that into
+``ds-identify`` itself, and then!, then we can depend on (``REQUIRE``)
+``var_run`` instead of ``mountcritlocal`` here.
+#}
+# REQUIRE: mountcritlocal
+# BEFORE:  cloudinitlocal
+
+. /etc/rc.subr
+
+PATH="{{ prefix }}/sbin:{{ prefix }}/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"
+
+name="dsidentify"
+command="{{ prefix }}/lib/cloud-init/ds-identify"
+start_cmd="dsidentify_start"
+stop_cmd=":"
+rcvar="cloudinit_enable"
+
+dsidentify_start()
+{
+    echo "${command} starting"
+    if kenv -q kernel_options | grep -q 'cloud-init=disabled'; then
+        warn "cloud-init is disabled via kernel_options."
+    elif test -e {{ prefix }}/etc/cloud-init.disabled; then
+        warn "cloud-init is disabled via cloud-init.disabled file."
+    else
+        ${command}
+    fi
+}
+
+load_rc_config 'cloudinit'
+
+: ${cloudinit_enable="NO"}
+
+run_rc_command "$1"
diff --git a/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudconfig b/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudconfig.tmpl
similarity index 70%
rename from sysvinit/netbsd/cloudconfig
rename to sysvinit/netbsd/cloudconfig.tmpl
index afc78ef36c7..b78356ca3d5 100755
--- a/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudconfig
+++ b/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudconfig.tmpl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+## template:jinja
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # PROVIDE: cloudconfig
@@ -10,10 +11,10 @@ name="cloudinit"
 start_cmd="start_cloud_init"
 start_cloud_init()
 {
-    test -e /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
+    test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
       && warn "cloud-init disabled by cloud-init.disabled file" \
       && exit 0
-    /usr/pkg/bin/cloud-init modules --mode config
+    {{prefix}}/bin/cloud-init modules --mode config
 }
 
 load_rc_config $name
diff --git a/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudfinal b/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudfinal.tmpl
similarity index 69%
rename from sysvinit/netbsd/cloudfinal
rename to sysvinit/netbsd/cloudfinal.tmpl
index 82e1f1c2c73..3117d07cc2c 100755
--- a/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudfinal
+++ b/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudfinal.tmpl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+## template:jinja
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # PROVIDE: cloudfinal
@@ -9,10 +10,10 @@ name="cloudinit"
 start_cmd="start_cloud_init"
 start_cloud_init()
 {
-    test -e /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
+    test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
       && warn "cloud-init disabled by cloud-init.disabled file" \
       && exit 0
-    /usr/pkg/bin/cloud-init modules --mode final
+    {{prefix}}/bin/cloud-init modules --mode final
 }
 
 load_rc_config $name
diff --git a/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinit b/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinit.tmpl
similarity index 72%
rename from sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinit
rename to sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinit.tmpl
index 8330953af20..a8e926c13bd 100755
--- a/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinit
+++ b/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinit.tmpl
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+## template:jinja
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # PROVIDE: cloudinit
@@ -9,10 +10,10 @@ name="cloudinit"
 start_cmd="start_cloud_init"
 start_cloud_init()
 {
-    test -e /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
+    test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
       && warn "cloud-init disabled by cloud-init.disabled file" \
       && exit 0
-    /usr/pkg/bin/cloud-init init
+    {{prefix}}/bin/cloud-init init
 }
 
 load_rc_config $name
diff --git a/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinitlocal b/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinitlocal.tmpl
similarity index 61%
rename from sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinitlocal
rename to sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinitlocal.tmpl
index 3a8ddcf106d..ba840ab4bd8 100755
--- a/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinitlocal
+++ b/sysvinit/netbsd/cloudinitlocal.tmpl
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
+## template:jinja
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # PROVIDE: cloudinitlocal
+{#
+``cloudinitlocal`` purposefully does not depend on ``dsidentify``.
+That makes it easy for image builders to create images without ``dsidentify``.
+#}
 # REQUIRE: NETWORKING
 
 # After NETWORKING because we don't want staticroute to wipe
@@ -11,10 +16,10 @@ name="cloudinitlocal"
 start_cmd="start_cloud_init_local"
 start_cloud_init_local()
 {
-    test -e /etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
+    test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
       && warn "cloud-init disabled by cloud-init.disabled file" \
       && exit 0
-    /usr/pkg/bin/cloud-init init -l
+    {{prefix}}/bin/cloud-init init -l
 }
 
 load_rc_config $name
diff --git a/sysvinit/netbsd/dsidentify.tmpl b/sysvinit/netbsd/dsidentify.tmpl
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..4ce7e067ee1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sysvinit/netbsd/dsidentify.tmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+## template:jinja
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# PROVIDE: dsidentify
+# REQUIRE: CRITLOCALMOUNTED
+# BEFORE:  cloudinitlocal
+
+$_rc_subr_loaded . /etc/rc.subr
+
+name="dsidentify"
+start_cmd="start_dsidentify"
+start_dsidentify()
+{
+    test -e {{prefix}}/etc/cloud/cloud-init.disabled \
+      && warn "cloud-init disabled by cloud-init.disabled file" \
+      && exit 0
+    {{prefix}}/lib/cloud-init/ds-identify
+}
+
+load_rc_config $name
+run_rc_command "$1"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_render_cloudcfg.py b/tests/unittests/test_render_cloudcfg.py
index d3aeb1b705f..2389f7668ea 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_render_cloudcfg.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_render_cloudcfg.py
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
 
 @pytest.mark.allow_subp_for(sys.executable)
 class TestRenderCloudCfg:
-
     cmd = [sys.executable, cloud_init_project_dir("tools/render-cloudcfg")]
     tmpl_path = cloud_init_project_dir("config/cloud.cfg.tmpl")
+    init_path = cloud_init_project_dir("sysvinit/freebsd/dsidentify.tmpl")
 
     def test_variant_sets_distro_in_cloud_cfg_subp(self, tmpdir):
         outfile = tmpdir.join("outcfg").strpath
@@ -42,6 +42,24 @@ def test_variant_sets_distro_in_cloud_cfg_subp(self, tmpdir):
             system_cfg = util.load_yaml(stream.read())
         assert system_cfg["system_info"]["distro"] == "ubuntu"
 
+    def test_variant_sets_prefix_in_cloud_cfg_subp(self, tmpdir):
+        outfile = tmpdir.join("outcfg").strpath
+
+        subp.subp(
+            self.cmd
+            + [
+                "--variant",
+                "freebsd",
+                "--prefix",
+                "/usr/local",
+                self.init_path,
+                outfile,
+            ]
+        )
+        with open(outfile) as stream:
+            init_cfg = stream.readlines()
+        assert 'command="/usr/local/lib/cloud-init/ds-identify"\n' in init_cfg
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("variant", (DISTRO_VARIANTS))
     def test_variant_sets_distro_in_cloud_cfg(self, variant, tmpdir):
         """Testing parametrized inputs with imported function saves ~0.5s per
diff --git a/tools/render-cloudcfg b/tools/render-cloudcfg
index 6551875f0c6..85b499ffc9f 100755
--- a/tools/render-cloudcfg
+++ b/tools/render-cloudcfg
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 import argparse
 
+
 def main():
     _tdir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".."))
     sys.path.insert(0, _tdir)
@@ -46,6 +47,12 @@ def main():
         help="define the variant.",
         choices=VARIANTS,
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--prefix",
+        action="store",
+        default=sys.prefix,
+        help="define the prefix. Default: " + sys.prefix,
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "template",
         nargs="?",
@@ -62,7 +69,9 @@ def main():
     )
 
     args = parser.parse_args(sys.argv[1:])
-    templater.render_cloudcfg(args.variant, args.template, args.output)
+    templater.render_cloudcfg(
+        args.variant, args.template, args.output, prefix=args.prefix
+    )
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":