diff --git a/tools/packaging/static-build/kernel/build.sh b/tools/packaging/static-build/kernel/build.sh
index 98ee0e9261..4206decffa 100755
--- a/tools/packaging/static-build/kernel/build.sh
+++ b/tools/packaging/static-build/kernel/build.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ DESTDIR=${DESTDIR:-${PWD}}
 PREFIX=${PREFIX:-/opt/kata}
 container_image="${CC_BUILDER_REGISTRY}:kernel-$(get_last_modification ${repo_root_dir} ${script_dir})"
 
-sudo docker pull ${container_image} || sudo docker build -t "${container_image}" "${script_dir}"
+sudo docker pull ${container_image} || \
+	(sudo docker build -t "${container_image}" "${script_dir}" && \
+	 # No-op unless PUSH_TO_REGISTRY is exported as "yes"
+	 push_to_registry "${container_image}")
 
 sudo docker run --rm -i -v "${repo_root_dir}:${repo_root_dir}" \
 	-w "${PWD}" \