diff --git a/lib/functions/rootfs/rootfs-create.sh b/lib/functions/rootfs/rootfs-create.sh
index 5cb8290acd..69f7a09538 100644
--- a/lib/functions/rootfs/rootfs-create.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/rootfs/rootfs-create.sh
@@ -198,9 +198,12 @@ function create_new_rootfs_cache_via_debootstrap() {
 	fi
 
 	# stage: check md5 sum of installed packages. Just in case. @TODO: rpardini: this should also be done when a cache is used, not only when it is created
-	display_alert "Checking MD5 sum of installed packages" "debsums" "info"
-	declare -g if_error_detail_message="Check MD5 sum of installed packages failed"
-	chroot_sdcard debsums --silent
+	# lets check only for supported targets only unless forced
+	if [[ "${DISTRIBUTION_STATUS}" == "supported" || "${FORCE_CHECK_MD5_PACKAGES:-"no"}" == "yes" ]]; then
+		display_alert "Checking MD5 sum of installed packages" "debsums" "info"
+		declare -g if_error_detail_message="Check MD5 sum of installed packages failed"
+		chroot_sdcard debsums --silent
+	fi
 
 	# # Remove packages from packages.uninstall
 	# # @TODO: aggregation.py handling of this... if we wanted it removed in rootfs cache, why did we install it in the first place?