diff --git a/amazon-eks-al2.pkr.hcl b/amazon-eks-al2.pkr.hcl
index fc6dd8e..fd6f554 100644
--- a/amazon-eks-al2.pkr.hcl
+++ b/amazon-eks-al2.pkr.hcl
@@ -122,6 +122,13 @@ build {
     script            = "scripts/update.sh"
   }
 
+  provisioner "shell" {
+    execute_command   = "echo 'packer' | {{ .Vars }} sudo -S -E bash -eux '{{ .Path }}'"
+    expect_disconnect = true
+    pause_after       = "15s"
+    script            = "scripts/kernel.sh"
+  }
+
   provisioner "shell" {
     execute_command = "echo 'packer' | {{ .Vars }} sudo -S -E bash -eux '{{ .Path }}'"
     environment_vars = [
diff --git a/scripts/kernel.sh b/scripts/kernel.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..6d87530
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/kernel.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -o pipefail
+set -o nounset
+set -o errexit
+
+echo "linux kernel info"
+uname -r
+rpm -qa | grep kernel
+amazon-linux-extras | grep kernel
+
+case $(uname -r) in
+    5.10.*)
+        echo "already using a 5.10 kernel version"
+        ;;
+    *)
+        echo "use linux kernel 5.10"
+        amazon-linux-extras disable kernel-5.4
+        amazon-linux-extras install kernel-5.10 -y
+        rpm -qa | grep kernel
+
+        echo "rebooting the instance"
+        reboot
+        ;;
+esac