diff --git a/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/preinit/81_upgrade_bootloader b/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/preinit/81_upgrade_bootloader
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3a4e756b1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/preinit/81_upgrade_bootloader
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+upgrade_bootloader() {
+	local diskdev
+
+	. /lib/upgrade/common.sh
+
+	if [ ! -f /boot/grub/upgraded ] && export_bootdevice && export_partdevice diskdev 0; then
+		echo "(hd0) /dev/$diskdev" > /tmp/device.map
+		/usr/sbin/grub-bios-setup \
+			-m "/tmp/device.map" \
+			-d "/boot/grub" \
+			-r "hd0,msdos1" \
+			"/dev/$diskdev" \
+		&& touch /boot/grub/upgraded
+	fi
+}
+
+[ "$INITRAMFS" = "1" ] || boot_hook_add preinit_main upgrade_bootloader
diff --git a/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/upgrade/platform.sh b/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/upgrade/platform.sh
index 8be96dfcd4..53c751861c 100644
--- a/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/upgrade/platform.sh
+++ b/target/linux/x86/base-files/lib/upgrade/platform.sh
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ platform_do_bootloader_upgrade() {
 			-m "/tmp/device.map" \
 			-d "/tmp/boot/boot/grub" \
 			-r "hd0,msdos1" \
-			"/dev/$diskdev"
+			"/dev/$diskdev" \
+		&& touch /boot/grub/upgraded
 
 		umount /tmp/boot
 	fi