diff --git a/image/mkosi.files/mkosi.qemu.conf b/image/mkosi.files/mkosi.qemu.conf
index e11730abc..15b14a433 100644
--- a/image/mkosi.files/mkosi.qemu.conf
+++ b/image/mkosi.files/mkosi.qemu.conf
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 [Output]
 KernelCommandLine=constel.csp=qemu
 OutputDirectory=mkosi.output.qemu
+
+[Content]
+Autologin=yes
+Environment=CONSOLE_MOTD=true
diff --git a/image/mkosi.postinst b/image/mkosi.postinst
index 5e75fb669..f8c802b00 100755
--- a/image/mkosi.postinst
+++ b/image/mkosi.postinst
@@ -21,6 +21,17 @@ mv /etc/issue.d /usr/lib/issue.d || true
 rm -f /etc/issue
 rm -f /etc/issue.net
 
+# add motd for constellation console access
+if [[ "${CONSOLE_MOTD:-false}" == "true" ]]; then
+cat <<EOF > /usr/lib/motd.d/10-constellation-console-access.motd
+~ Welcome to Constellation! ~
+Usually, on release versions of Constellation running in the cloud, you are not able to login through the serial console.
+This shell access is specifically granted for debug images and MiniConstellation to allow users to research the environment Constellation runs in.
+Have fun! Feel free to report any issues to GitHub or security@edgeless.systems (for security vulnerabilities only).
+EOF
+fi
+
+
 # update /etc/os-release
 echo "IMAGE_ID=\"${IMAGE_ID}\"" >> /etc/os-release
 echo "IMAGE_VERSION=\"${IMAGE_VERSION}\"" >> /etc/os-release
diff --git a/image/mkosi.skeleton/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/constellation.conf b/image/mkosi.skeleton/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/constellation.conf
index 474387816..41024bb0b 100644
--- a/image/mkosi.skeleton/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/constellation.conf
+++ b/image/mkosi.skeleton/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/constellation.conf
@@ -4,5 +4,7 @@ d     /var/log/kubernetes/audit/                            0700   0    0   -
 d     /run/state/bin                                        0755   0    0   -           -
 C     /run/issue.d                                          -    -    -     -           /usr/lib/issue.d/
 C     /run/issue                                            -    -    -     -           /usr/lib/issue
+C     /run/motd.d                                           -    -    -     -           /usr/lib/motd.d/
+C     /run/motd                                             -    -    -     -           /usr/lib/motd
 # merge all CNI binaries in writable folder until containerd can use multiple CNI bins: https://github.com/containerd/containerd/issues/6600
 C     /opt/cni/bin                                          -    -    -     -           /usr/libexec/cni/