diff --git a/kiwi/system/setup.py b/kiwi/system/setup.py
index 0a9354b4..8a51104e 100644
--- a/kiwi/system/setup.py
+++ b/kiwi/system/setup.py
@@ -853,6 +853,11 @@ class SystemSetup(object):
 
     def _export_rpm_package_list(self, filename):
         log.info('Export rpm packages metadata')
+        dbpath = self._get_rpm_database_location()
+        if dbpath:
+            dbpath_option = ['--dbpath', dbpath]
+        else:
+            dbpath_option = []
         query_call = Command.run(
             [
                 'rpm', '--root', self.root_dir, '-qa', '--qf',
@@ -862,7 +867,7 @@ class SystemSetup(object):
                         '%{RELEASE}', '%{ARCH}', '%{DISTURL}'
                     ]
                 ) + '\\n'
-            ]
+            ] + dbpath_option
         )
         with open(filename, 'w') as packages:
             packages.write(query_call.output)
@@ -886,8 +891,13 @@ class SystemSetup(object):
 
     def _export_rpm_package_verification(self, filename):
         log.info('Export rpm verification metadata')
+        dbpath = self._get_rpm_database_location()
+        if dbpath:
+            dbpath_option = ['--dbpath', dbpath]
+        else:
+            dbpath_option = []
         query_call = Command.run(
-            command=['rpm', '--root', self.root_dir, '-Va'],
+            command=['rpm', '--root', self.root_dir, '-Va'] + dbpath_option,
             raise_on_error=False
         )
         with open(filename, 'w') as verified:
@@ -904,3 +914,11 @@ class SystemSetup(object):
         )
         with open(filename, 'w') as verified:
             verified.write(query_call.output)
+
+    def _get_rpm_database_location(self):
+        try:
+            return Command.run(
+                ['chroot', self.root_dir, 'rpm', '-E', '%_dbpath']
+            ).output.rstrip('\r\n')
+        except Exception:
+            return None
diff --git a/test/unit/system_setup_test.py b/test/unit/system_setup_test.py
index 29a41a5c..a8758d5e 100644
--- a/test/unit/system_setup_test.py
+++ b/test/unit/system_setup_test.py
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ from kiwi.xml_description import XMLDescription
 from kiwi.xml_state import XMLState
 from kiwi.exceptions import (
     KiwiScriptFailed,
-    KiwiImportDescriptionError
+    KiwiImportDescriptionError,
+    KiwiCommandError
 )
 from kiwi.defaults import Defaults
 
@@ -752,9 +753,41 @@ class TestSystemSetup(object):
         mock_command.return_value = command
         result = self.setup.export_package_list('target_dir')
         assert result == 'target_dir/some-image.x86_64-1.2.3.packages'
-        mock_command.assert_called_once_with([
-            'rpm', '--root', 'root_dir', '-qa', '--qf',
-            '%{NAME}|%{EPOCH}|%{VERSION}|%{RELEASE}|%{ARCH}|%{DISTURL}\\n'
+        mock_command.assert_has_calls([
+            call(['chroot', 'root_dir', 'rpm', '-E', '%_dbpath']),
+            call([
+                'rpm', '--root', 'root_dir', '-qa', '--qf',
+                '%{NAME}|%{EPOCH}|%{VERSION}|%{RELEASE}|%{ARCH}|%{DISTURL}\\n',
+                '--dbpath', 'packages_data'
+            ])
+        ])
+        mock_open.assert_called_once_with(
+            'target_dir/some-image.x86_64-1.2.3.packages', 'w'
+        )
+
+    @patch('kiwi.system.setup.Command.run')
+    @patch_open
+    def test_export_package_list_rpm_no_dbpath(
+        self, mock_open, mock_command
+    ):
+        cmd = mock.Mock()
+        cmd.output = 'packages_data'
+
+        def dbpath_check_fails(command):
+            if '%_dbpath' in command:
+                raise KiwiCommandError()
+            else:
+                return cmd
+
+        mock_command.side_effect = dbpath_check_fails
+        result = self.setup.export_package_list('target_dir')
+        assert result == 'target_dir/some-image.x86_64-1.2.3.packages'
+        mock_command.assert_has_calls([
+            call(['chroot', 'root_dir', 'rpm', '-E', '%_dbpath']),
+            call([
+                'rpm', '--root', 'root_dir', '-qa', '--qf',
+                '%{NAME}|%{EPOCH}|%{VERSION}|%{RELEASE}|%{ARCH}|%{DISTURL}\\n'
+            ])
         ])
         mock_open.assert_called_once_with(
             'target_dir/some-image.x86_64-1.2.3.packages', 'w'
@@ -791,10 +824,41 @@ class TestSystemSetup(object):
         mock_command.return_value = command
         result = self.setup.export_package_verification('target_dir')
         assert result == 'target_dir/some-image.x86_64-1.2.3.verified'
-        mock_command.assert_called_once_with(
-            command=['rpm', '--root', 'root_dir', '-Va'],
-            raise_on_error=False
+        mock_command.assert_has_calls([
+            call(['chroot', 'root_dir', 'rpm', '-E', '%_dbpath']),
+            call(command=[
+                'rpm', '--root', 'root_dir', '-Va',
+                '--dbpath', 'verification_data'
+            ], raise_on_error=False)
+        ])
+        mock_open.assert_called_once_with(
+            'target_dir/some-image.x86_64-1.2.3.verified', 'w'
         )
+
+    @patch('kiwi.system.setup.Command.run')
+    @patch_open
+    def test_export_package_verification_no_dbpath(
+        self, mock_open, mock_command
+    ):
+        cmd = mock.Mock()
+        cmd.output = 'verification_data'
+
+        def dbpath_check_fails(command, raise_on_error):
+            if '%_dbpath' in command:
+                raise KiwiCommandError()
+            else:
+                return cmd
+
+        mock_command.side_effect = dbpath_check_fails
+        result = self.setup.export_package_verification('target_dir')
+        assert result == 'target_dir/some-image.x86_64-1.2.3.verified'
+        mock_command.assert_has_calls([
+            call(['chroot', 'root_dir', 'rpm', '-E', '%_dbpath']),
+            call(
+                command=['rpm', '--root', 'root_dir', '-Va'],
+                raise_on_error=False
+            )
+        ])
         mock_open.assert_called_once_with(
             'target_dir/some-image.x86_64-1.2.3.verified', 'w'
         )