diff --git a/elements/nscd/README.md b/elements/nscd/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e85e9be89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/nscd/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Add nscd to built images
+========================
+
+This element adds nscd to the image. The nscd daemon caches name service
+lookups (including NIS+ and DNS).
diff --git a/elements/nscd/install.d/90-nscd b/elements/nscd/install.d/90-nscd
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..69d40fe2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/nscd/install.d/90-nscd
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# dib-lint: disable=setpipefail
+# Copyright 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+set -eux
+
+install-packages nscd
+