diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/debian/element-deps b/diskimage_builder/elements/debian/element-deps
index 1c0ebe248..25a740d8a 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/debian/element-deps
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/debian/element-deps
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 debian-minimal
 openssh-server
+sysprep
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/element-deps b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/element-deps
index ac6b190dd..799449c22 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/element-deps
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse-minimal/element-deps
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
+sysprep
 zypper-minimal
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/element-deps b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/element-deps
index 89baf7316..955c38b1b 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/element-deps
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/opensuse/element-deps
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 cache-url
 package-installs
+sysprep
 zypper
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/redhat-common/element-deps b/diskimage_builder/elements/redhat-common/element-deps
index 7076aba94..5cef2a44c 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/redhat-common/element-deps
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/redhat-common/element-deps
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 package-installs
+sysprep
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/sysprep/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/sysprep/README.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb9c15aa3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/sysprep/README.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+sysprep
+=======
+
+This element holds configuration and scripts that are common for all
+distributions.
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/sysprep/finalise.d/01-clear-machine-id b/diskimage_builder/elements/sysprep/finalise.d/01-clear-machine-id
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..e3e4aac18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/sysprep/finalise.d/01-clear-machine-id
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+if [ ${DIB_DEBUG_TRACE:-0} -gt 0 ]; then
+    set -x
+fi
+set -eu
+set -o pipefail
+
+if [ -e /etc/machine-id ]; then
+    > /etc/machine-id
+fi
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/element-deps b/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/element-deps
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..467f171ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/ubuntu-common/element-deps
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+sysprep
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/sysprep-f3fd036bc1d2c405.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/sysprep-f3fd036bc1d2c405.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2a9696898
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/sysprep-f3fd036bc1d2c405.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    Adds sysprep element included by all systemd distros
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Adds default sysprep element clearing /etc/machine-id which
+    prevents duplicated /etc/machine-id by forcing systemd to
+    generate a new id for each booted system.