diff --git a/hack/transform-al2-to-al2023.sh b/hack/transform-al2-to-al2023.sh
index e15be44d9..d7ebd29b3 100755
--- a/hack/transform-al2-to-al2023.sh
+++ b/hack/transform-al2-to-al2023.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ fi
 cat "${PACKER_TEMPLATE_FILE}" \
   | jq '._comment = "All template variables are enumerated here; and most variables have a default value defined in eks-worker-al2023-variables.json"' \
   | jq '.variables.temporary_key_pair_type = "ed25519"' \
-  | jq 'del(.provisioners[5])' \
+  | jq '.provisioners |= map(select(.script//empty|endswith("upgrade_kernel.sh")|not))' \
     > "${PACKER_TEMPLATE_FILE/al2/al2023}"
 
 # use newer versions of containerd and runc, do not install docker