diff --git a/playbooks/docker-image/run.yaml b/playbooks/docker-image/run.yaml
index d3525ad..617a267 100644
--- a/playbooks/docker-image/run.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/docker-image/run.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,16 @@
 - hosts: all
   roles:
     - build-docker-image
+
+# If buildset_registry is defined, that means a parent job is running it;
+# only if it is not defined does it mean that we are running it.  If we
+# are running it, pause the job so that child jobs will automatically
+# use it.
+- hosts: localhost
+  tasks:
+    - name: Pause the job
+      when: buildset_registry is not defined
+      zuul_return:
+        data:
+          zuul:
+            pause: true
diff --git a/zuul.yaml b/zuul.yaml
index e2b1328..6bd8a60 100644
--- a/zuul.yaml
+++ b/zuul.yaml
@@ -230,6 +230,10 @@
 
       Analog of build-docker-image job, but with a buildset registry.
 
+      This job will pause after starting the registry so that it is
+      available to any jobs which depend on it.  Once all such jobs
+      are complete, this job will finish.
+
       .. include:: ../../playbooks/docker-image/README.rst
     run: playbooks/docker-image/run.yaml
     provides: docker-image