diff --git a/man/rules/meson.build b/man/rules/meson.build
index e76cb0223b..7461398720 100644
--- a/man/rules/meson.build
+++ b/man/rules/meson.build
@@ -1093,7 +1093,10 @@ manpages = [
  ['systemd-sysctl.service', '8', ['systemd-sysctl'], ''],
  ['systemd-sysext',
   '8',
-  ['systemd-confext', 'systemd-confext.service', 'systemd-sysext.service'],
+  ['systemd-confext',
+   'systemd-confext-initrd.service',
+   'systemd-confext.service',
+   'systemd-sysext.service'],
   'ENABLE_SYSEXT'],
  ['systemd-system-update-generator', '8', [], ''],
  ['systemd-system.conf',
diff --git a/man/systemd-sysext.xml b/man/systemd-sysext.xml
index b196503cd9..9f78b3b214 100644
--- a/man/systemd-sysext.xml
+++ b/man/systemd-sysext.xml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
     <refname>systemd-sysext.service</refname>
     <refname>systemd-confext</refname>
     <refname>systemd-confext.service</refname>
+    <refname>systemd-confext-initrd.service</refname>
     <refpurpose>Activates System Extension Images</refpurpose>
   </refnamediv>
 
diff --git a/units/meson.build b/units/meson.build
index 96f4852741..bc71c72686 100644
--- a/units/meson.build
+++ b/units/meson.build
@@ -287,6 +287,11 @@ units = [
           'file' : 'systemd-confext.service',
           'conditions' : ['ENABLE_SYSEXT'],
         },
+        {
+          'file' : 'systemd-confext-initrd.service',
+          'conditions' : ['ENABLE_INITRD', 'ENABLE_SYSEXT'],
+          'symlinks' : ['initrd.target.wants/'],
+        },
         {
           'file' : 'systemd-coredump.socket',
           'conditions' : ['ENABLE_COREDUMP'],
diff --git a/units/systemd-confext-initrd.service b/units/systemd-confext-initrd.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4655018567
--- /dev/null
+++ b/units/systemd-confext-initrd.service
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+#
+# This file is part of systemd.
+#
+# systemd is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+# under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+[Unit]
+Description=Merge System Configuration Images into /etc/
+Documentation=man:systemd-confext-initrd.service(8)
+
+ConditionCapability=CAP_SYS_ADMIN
+ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/run/confexts
+ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/var/lib/confexts
+ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/usr/local/lib/confexts
+ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/usr/lib/confexts
+ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/.extra/confext
+ConditionPathExists=/etc/initrd-release
+
+DefaultDependencies=no
+Before=local-fs-pre.target cryptsetup-pre.target systemd-tmpfiles-setup.service
+Wants=local-fs-pre.target cryptsetup-pre.target
+Conflicts=initrd-switch-root.target
+Before=initrd-switch-root.target
+Wants=modprobe@loop.service modprobe@dm_mod.service modprobe@squashfs.service modprobe@erofs.service
+After=modprobe@loop.service modprobe@dm_mod.service modprobe@squashfs.service modprobe@erofs.service
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+RemainAfterExit=yes
+ExecStart=systemd-confext refresh
+ExecReload=systemd-confext refresh
+ExecStop=systemd-confext unmerge
diff --git a/units/systemd-confext.service b/units/systemd-confext.service
index cd5e0f295f..e509036d03 100644
--- a/units/systemd-confext.service
+++ b/units/systemd-confext.service
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/run/confexts
 ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/var/lib/confexts
 ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/usr/local/lib/confexts
 ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/usr/lib/confexts
-ConditionDirectoryNotEmpty=|/.extra/confext
+ConditionPathExists=!/etc/initrd-release
 
 DefaultDependencies=no
 After=local-fs.target
 Before=sysinit.target systemd-tmpfiles-setup.service
-Conflicts=shutdown.target initrd-switch-root.target
-Before=shutdown.target initrd-switch-root.target
+Conflicts=shutdown.target
+Before=shutdown.target
 
 [Service]
 Type=oneshot