diff --git a/ironic/drivers/modules/image_utils.py b/ironic/drivers/modules/image_utils.py
index 1320b15e04..105a57d152 100644
--- a/ironic/drivers/modules/image_utils.py
+++ b/ironic/drivers/modules/image_utils.py
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ def _prepare_iso_image(task, kernel_href, ramdisk_href,
             (kernel_params, ' '.join(
                 '%s=%s' % kv for kv in params.items())))
 
-    boot_mode = boot_mode_utils.get_boot_mode_for_deploy(task.node)
+    boot_mode = boot_mode_utils.get_boot_mode(task.node)
 
     LOG.debug("Trying to create %(boot_mode)s ISO image for node %(node)s "
               "with kernel %(kernel_href)s, ramdisk %(ramdisk_href)s, "
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/test_image_utils.py b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/test_image_utils.py
index 54204995b5..e5dd94849a 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/test_image_utils.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/test_image_utils.py
@@ -259,6 +259,27 @@ class RedfishImageUtilsTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
 
             self.assertEqual(expected_url, url)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(image_utils.ImageHandler, 'publish_image',
+                       autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(images, 'create_boot_iso', autospec=True)
+    def test__prepare_iso_image_default_boot_mode(
+            self, mock_create_boot_iso, mock_publish_image):
+        self.config(default_boot_mode='uefi', group='deploy')
+        with task_manager.acquire(self.context, self.node.uuid,
+                                  shared=True) as task:
+            image_utils._prepare_iso_image(
+                task, 'http://kernel/img', 'http://ramdisk/img',
+                bootloader_href=None, root_uuid=task.node.uuid,
+                base_iso='/path/to/baseiso')
+
+            mock_create_boot_iso.assert_called_once_with(
+                mock.ANY, mock.ANY, 'http://kernel/img', 'http://ramdisk/img',
+                boot_mode='uefi', esp_image_href=None,
+                configdrive_href=mock.ANY,
+                kernel_params='nofb nomodeset vga=normal',
+                root_uuid='1be26c0b-03f2-4d2e-ae87-c02d7f33c123',
+                base_iso='/path/to/baseiso')
+
     @mock.patch.object(image_utils.ImageHandler, 'publish_image',
                        autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(images, 'create_boot_iso', autospec=True)
@@ -282,7 +303,7 @@ class RedfishImageUtilsTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
 
             mock_create_boot_iso.assert_called_once_with(
                 mock.ANY, mock.ANY, 'http://kernel/img', 'http://ramdisk/img',
-                boot_mode=None, esp_image_href=None,
+                boot_mode='bios', esp_image_href=None,
                 configdrive_href=mock.ANY,
                 kernel_params='nofb nomodeset vga=normal',
                 root_uuid='1be26c0b-03f2-4d2e-ae87-c02d7f33c123',
@@ -308,7 +329,7 @@ class RedfishImageUtilsTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
 
             mock_create_boot_iso.assert_called_once_with(
                 mock.ANY, mock.ANY, 'http://kernel/img', 'http://ramdisk/img',
-                boot_mode=None, esp_image_href=None,
+                boot_mode='bios', esp_image_href=None,
                 configdrive_href=mock.ANY,
                 kernel_params=kernel_params,
                 root_uuid='1be26c0b-03f2-4d2e-ae87-c02d7f33c123',
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/vmedia-boot-mode-f75c6fbef6349cbf.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/vmedia-boot-mode-f75c6fbef6349cbf.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..24d4b5fefb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/vmedia-boot-mode-f75c6fbef6349cbf.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    The virtual media ISO image building process now respects the
+    ``default_boot_mode`` configuration option.