diff --git a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/85cleanup-cjk b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/85cleanup-cjk
index 102fdca9..90648eb5 100755
--- a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/85cleanup-cjk
+++ b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/85cleanup-cjk
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+# don't cripple the image to be copied over
+[ -x /usr/sbin/live-install -o -x /usr/sbin/livecd-install ] && exit 0
+
 # remove unused fonts
 cd /usr/share/fonts/bitmap/misc/ &&
 	rm -f *ja.* *ko.* han* gb* jis* k14* rk* *rk.* *kana* cl* *JIS*
diff --git a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/85cleanup-legacy b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/85cleanup-legacy
index 9dc66f29..c50ae880 100755
--- a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/85cleanup-legacy
+++ b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/85cleanup-legacy
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+# don't cripple the image to be copied over
+[ -x /usr/sbin/live-install -o -x /usr/sbin/livecd-install ] && exit 0
+
 # remove unused legacy/tiny fonts
 #cd /usr/share/fonts/bitmap/misc/ && rm -f *ISO* *KOI* [1456]*
 cd /usr/share/fonts/bitmap/misc/ && rm -f [1456]*
diff --git a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/90cleanup-bloat-bin b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/90cleanup-bloat-bin
index 4403fb05..472d1392 100755
--- a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/90cleanup-bloat-bin
+++ b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/90cleanup-bloat-bin
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-# outstanding binaries
 
+# don't cripple the image to be copied over
+[ -x /usr/sbin/live-install -o -x /usr/sbin/livecd-install ] && exit 0
+
+# purge outstanding binaries
 rm -f /sbin/{sash,sln,tc}
 rm -f /usr/bin/{openssl,ipv6log*}
 rm -f /bin/ipv6calc
+
+:
diff --git a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/90cleanup-drm b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/90cleanup-drm
index 241160dc..c7a7651e 100755
--- a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/90cleanup-drm
+++ b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/90cleanup-drm
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-# no sense in xorg-dri-* without kernel-modules-drm*
 
+# don't cripple the image to be copied over
+[ -x /usr/sbin/live-install -o -x /usr/sbin/livecd-install ] && exit 0
+
+# no sense in xorg-dri-* without kernel-modules-drm*
 stat /lib/modules/*/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm >&/dev/null \
 || rm -rf /usr/lib*/X11/modules/dri/
+
+:
diff --git a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/97cleanup-blacklisted b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/97cleanup-blacklisted
index 9c372598..85311c50 100755
--- a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/97cleanup-blacklisted
+++ b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/97cleanup-blacklisted
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+# don't cripple the image to be copied over
+[ -x /usr/sbin/live-install -o -x /usr/sbin/livecd-install ] && exit 0
+
 # blacklisted kernel modules
 sed -n 's/^blacklist[[:space:]]\+\([^[:space:]]\+\).*/\1/p' /etc/modprobe.d/* |
 	while read i; do
 		find /lib/modules/ -type f -name "$i.ko" -delete
 	done
+
+:
diff --git a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/99cleanup-boot b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/99cleanup-boot
index cee75e47..df7e3bac 100755
--- a/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/99cleanup-boot
+++ b/sub.in/stage2/image-scripts.d/99cleanup-boot
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-# no need for the kernel in live root
-# (unless it's a live-install):
-# it's been booted already
 
-[ -x /usr/sbin/live-install ] || [ -x /usr/sbin/livecd-install ] || rm -f /boot/*
+# don't cripple the image to be copied over
+[ -x /usr/sbin/live-install -o -x /usr/sbin/livecd-install ] && exit 0
+
+# no need for the kernel in live root otherwise: it's been booted already
+rm -f /boot/*
+
+: