diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/rpm-distro/cleanup.d/99-selinux-fixfiles-restore b/diskimage_builder/elements/rpm-distro/cleanup.d/99-selinux-fixfiles-restore
index b13e98f74..3d259bdf2 100755
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/rpm-distro/cleanup.d/99-selinux-fixfiles-restore
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/rpm-distro/cleanup.d/99-selinux-fixfiles-restore
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ fi
 IFS='|' read -ra SPLIT_MOUNTS <<< "$DIB_MOUNTPOINTS"
 for MOUNTPOINT in "${SPLIT_MOUNTS[@]}"; do
     if [ "${MOUNTPOINT}" != "/tmp/in_target.d" ] && [ "${MOUNTPOINT}" != "/dev" ] && [ "${MOUNTPOINT}" != "/boot/efi" ]; then
+        if ! pgrep kauditd >/dev/null; then
+            echo "*** kauditd not found, suggesting auditing support is disabled in the host kernel. setfiles will fail without this, please enable and rebuild"
+            exit 1
+        fi
         sudo ${_runcon} chroot ${TARGET_ROOT} \
             /usr/sbin/setfiles -F ${_dash_m} \
             /etc/selinux/targeted/contexts/files/file_contexts ${MOUNTPOINT}