diff --git a/nova/compute/api.py b/nova/compute/api.py
index 0cab6116b87c..797d19a06ac7 100644
--- a/nova/compute/api.py
+++ b/nova/compute/api.py
@@ -3495,6 +3495,8 @@ class API(base.Base):
             new_sys_metadata = utils.get_system_metadata_from_image(
                 image, flavor)
 
+            new_sys_metadata.update({'image_base_image_ref': image_id})
+
             instance.system_metadata.update(new_sys_metadata)
             instance.save()
             return orig_sys_metadata
@@ -4110,6 +4112,14 @@ class API(base.Base):
         hypervisor.
         """
         instance.task_state = task_states.SHELVING
+
+        # NOTE(aarents): Ensure image_base_image_ref is present as it will be
+        # needed during unshelve and instance rebuild done before Bug/1893618
+        # Fix dropped it.
+        instance.system_metadata.update(
+                {'image_base_image_ref': instance.image_ref}
+        )
+
         instance.save(expected_task_state=[None])
 
         self._record_action_start(context, instance, instance_actions.SHELVE)
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_shelve.py b/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_shelve.py
index 911e8f776cd8..40cb9ac62ee8 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_shelve.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_shelve.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ class ShelvePolicyTestV21(test.NoDBTestCase):
             self.req.environ['nova.context'],
             vm_state=vm_states.ACTIVE, task_state=None)
         instance.launched_at = instance.created_at
+        instance.system_metadata = {}
         get_instance_mock.return_value = instance
         mock_save.side_effect = exception.UnexpectedTaskStateError(
             instance_uuid=instance.uuid, expected=None,
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_compute.py b/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_compute.py
index 1dcaa501c355..c12d83ca5500 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_compute.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_compute.py
@@ -9110,6 +9110,7 @@ class ComputeAPITestCase(BaseTestCase):
                      'image_ramdisk_id': uuids.ramdisk_id,
                      'image_something_else': 'meow',
                      'preserved': 'preserve this!',
+                     'image_base_image_ref': image_ref,
                      'boot_roles': ''},
                     sys_meta)