diff --git a/testsuite/cibuilder.py b/testsuite/cibuilder.py
index f9cca0c7..bdfcbeed 100755
--- a/testsuite/cibuilder.py
+++ b/testsuite/cibuilder.py
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ class CIBuilder(Test):
         customizations=None,
         generate_sbom=False,
         lines=None,
+        rootless=False,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         # write configuration file and set bitbake_args
@@ -140,6 +141,9 @@ class CIBuilder(Test):
         if not sstate:
             sstate = bool(int(self.params.get('sstate', default=0)))
 
+        if not rootless:
+            rootless = bool(int(self.params.get('rootless', default=0)))
+
         # set those to "" to not set dir value but use system default
         if dl_dir is None:
             dl_dir = os.getenv('DL_DIR')
@@ -279,6 +283,8 @@ class CIBuilder(Test):
                 )
             if generate_sbom is False:
                 f.write('ROOTFS_FEATURES:remove = "generate-sbom"\n')
+            if rootless:
+                f.write('ISAR_ROOTLESS = "1"')
             if lines is not None:
                 f.writelines((line + '\n' if not line.endswith('\n') else line) for line in lines)