diff --git a/image-recipe/build-auto-installer-iso.sh b/image-recipe/build-auto-installer-iso.sh
index 2b152717..b03a8fa4 100755
--- a/image-recipe/build-auto-installer-iso.sh
+++ b/image-recipe/build-auto-installer-iso.sh
@@ -461,10 +461,22 @@ debootstrap --variant=minbase --arch=${DEB_ARCH} \
 kmod,procps,iproute2,ca-certificates,gdisk,\
 cryptsetup,cryptsetup-initramfs,parted,dosfstools,e2fsprogs,\
 linux-image-${DEB_ARCH},grub-efi-${DEB_ARCH},grub-pc-bin,\
-live-boot,live-boot-initramfs-tools,\
 pciutils,usbutils,less,nano \
     bookworm /installer http://deb.debian.org/debian
 
+# Install live-boot separately — debootstrap minbase resolver can't handle it
+echo "   [container] Installing live-boot for squashfs root support..."
+chroot /installer apt-get update -qq
+chroot /installer apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends live-boot live-boot-initramfs-tools
+chroot /installer apt-get clean
+# Verify live-boot hooks are in place
+if [ -d /installer/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/live ]; then
+    echo "   [container] live-boot initramfs hooks: OK"
+else
+    echo "   [container] WARNING: live-boot hooks not found!"
+    ls /installer/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/ 2>/dev/null
+fi
+
 echo "   [container] Configuring installer environment..."
 
 # Set hostname
@@ -2556,7 +2568,6 @@ if [ ! -f "$EFI_IMG" ]; then
         -c isolinux/boot.cat \
         -b isolinux/isolinux.bin \
         -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
-        -partition_offset 16 \
         "$INSTALLER_ISO"
 else
     xorriso -as mkisofs -o "$OUTPUT_ISO" \
@@ -2571,7 +2582,6 @@ else
         -e boot/grub/efi.img \
         -no-emul-boot \
         -isohybrid-gpt-basdat \
-        -partition_offset 16 \
         "$INSTALLER_ISO"
 fi