diff --git a/build_library/sysext_mangle_flatcar-overlaybd b/build_library/sysext_mangle_flatcar-overlaybd
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..6233be8f195
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build_library/sysext_mangle_flatcar-overlaybd
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -euo pipefail
+rootfs="${1}"
+
+pushd "${rootfs}"
+
+pushd ./usr/lib/systemd/system
+mkdir -p "multi-user.target.d"
+{ echo "[Unit]"; echo "Upholds=overlaybd-tcmu.service overlaybd-snapshotter.service"; } > "multi-user.target.d/10-overlaybd.conf"
+popd
diff --git a/changelog/bugfixes/2025-10-01-overlaybd-autostart.md b/changelog/bugfixes/2025-10-01-overlaybd-autostart.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8f7a3d63ae0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/bugfixes/2025-10-01-overlaybd-autostart.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- Configured the services in the overlaybd sysext to start automatically like the other sysexts. Note that the sysext must be enabled at boot time for this to happen, otherwise you need to call `systemd-tmpfiles --create` and `systemctl daemon-reload` first.