diff --git a/target/linux/x86/image/Makefile b/target/linux/x86/image/Makefile
index 4383bcdcb2..eb0db417a3 100644
--- a/target/linux/x86/image/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/x86/image/Makefile
@@ -133,6 +133,12 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_VMDK_IMAGES),)
 	$(STAGING_DIR_HOST)/bin/qemu-img convert -f raw -O vmdk \
 		$(BIN_DIR)/$(IMG_COMBINED)-$(1).img \
 		$(BIN_DIR)/$(IMG_COMBINED)-$(1).vmdk
+	#build the ESXI VMDK with 
+	rm $(BIN_DIR)/$(IMG_COMBINED)-$(1)-esxi.vmdk || true
+	rm $(BIN_DIR)/$(IMG_COMBINED)-$(1)-esxi-flat.vmdk || true
+	$(STAGING_DIR_HOST)/bin/qemu-img convert -f raw -O vmdk -o adapter_type=lsilogic,subformat=monolithicFlat \
+		$(BIN_DIR)/$(IMG_COMBINED)-$(1).img \
+		$(BIN_DIR)/$(IMG_COMBINED)-$(1)-esxi.vmdk
   endef
 endif