diff --git a/bib/cmd/bootc-image-builder/image.go b/bib/cmd/bootc-image-builder/image.go
index f1ba66a9a..8bc590748 100644
--- a/bib/cmd/bootc-image-builder/image.go
+++ b/bib/cmd/bootc-image-builder/image.go
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ type ManifestConfig struct {
 
 	// TLSVerify specifies whether HTTPS and a valid TLS certificate are required
 	TLSVerify bool
+
+	// Use a local container from the host rather than a repository
+	Local bool
 }
 
 func Manifest(c *ManifestConfig) (*manifest.Manifest, error) {
@@ -65,6 +68,7 @@ func manifestForDiskImage(c *ManifestConfig, rng *rand.Rand) (*manifest.Manifest
 		Source:    c.Imgref,
 		Name:      c.Imgref,
 		TLSVerify: &c.TLSVerify,
+		Local:     c.Local,
 	}
 
 	var customizations *blueprint.Customizations
@@ -139,6 +143,7 @@ func manifestForDiskImage(c *ManifestConfig, rng *rand.Rand) (*manifest.Manifest
 			Source:    c.Imgref,
 			Name:      c.Imgref,
 			TLSVerify: &c.TLSVerify,
+			Local:     c.Local,
 		},
 	}
 	_, err = img.InstantiateManifestFromContainers(&mf, containerSources, runner, rng)
@@ -155,6 +160,7 @@ func manifestForISO(c *ManifestConfig, rng *rand.Rand) (*manifest.Manifest, erro
 		Source:    c.Imgref,
 		Name:      c.Imgref,
 		TLSVerify: &c.TLSVerify,
+		Local:     c.Local,
 	}
 
 	// The ref is not needed and will be removed from the ctor later
diff --git a/bib/cmd/bootc-image-builder/main.go b/bib/cmd/bootc-image-builder/main.go
index 6db227c1a..09208f86b 100644
--- a/bib/cmd/bootc-image-builder/main.go
+++ b/bib/cmd/bootc-image-builder/main.go
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ func manifestFromCobra(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) ([]byte, error) {
 	rpmCacheRoot, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("rpmmd")
 	configFile, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("config")
 	tlsVerify, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("tls-verify")
+	localStorage, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("local")
 	imgType, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("type")
 	targetArch, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("target-arch")
 	if targetArch != "" {
@@ -215,6 +216,7 @@ func manifestFromCobra(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) ([]byte, error) {
 		Repos:        repos,
 		Architecture: buildArch,
 		TLSVerify:    tlsVerify,
+		Local:        localStorage,
 	}
 	return makeManifest(manifestConfig, rpmCacheRoot)
 }
@@ -351,6 +353,7 @@ func run() error {
 	manifestCmd.Flags().String("type", "qcow2", "image type to build [qcow2, ami]")
 	manifestCmd.Flags().Bool("tls-verify", true, "require HTTPS and verify certificates when contacting registries")
 	manifestCmd.Flags().String("target-arch", "", "build for the given target architecture (experimental)")
+	manifestCmd.Flags().Bool("local", false, "use a local container rather than a container from a registry")
 
 	logrus.SetLevel(logrus.ErrorLevel)
 	buildCmd.Flags().AddFlagSet(manifestCmd.Flags())