diff --git a/gnu/build/image.scm b/gnu/build/image.scm
index 1b2d4da814..0b4dbc87ac 100644
--- a/gnu/build/image.scm
+++ b/gnu/build/image.scm
@@ -190,10 +190,6 @@ (define-deprecated/alias initialize-efi32-partition initialize-efi-partition)
 
 (define* (initialize-root-partition root
                                     #:key
-                                    bootcfg
-                                    bootcfg-location
-                                    bootloader-package
-                                    bootloader-installer
                                     (copy-closures? #t)
                                     (deduplicate? #t)
                                     references-graphs
@@ -240,18 +236,10 @@ (define tmp-store ".tmp-store")
 
     (unless copy-closures?
       (delete-file root-store)
-      (rename-file tmp-store root-store)))
-
-  ;; There's no point installing a bootloader if we do not populate the store.
-  (when copy-closures?
-    (when bootloader-installer
-      (display "installing bootloader...\n")
-      (bootloader-installer bootloader-package #f root))
-    (when bootcfg
-      (install-boot-config bootcfg bootcfg-location root))))
+      (rename-file tmp-store root-store))))
 
 (define* (make-iso9660-image xorriso grub-mkrescue-environment
-                             grub bootcfg system-directory root target
+                             grub grub.dir system-directory root target
                              #:key (volume-id "Guix_image") (volume-uuid #f)
                              register-closures? (references-graphs '())
                              (compression? #t))
@@ -310,7 +298,7 @@ (define grub-mkrescue-sed.sh
   (apply invoke grub-mkrescue
          (string-append "--xorriso=" grub-mkrescue-sed.sh)
          "-o" target
-         (string-append "boot/grub/grub.cfg=" bootcfg)
+         (string-append "boot/grub=" grub.dir)
          root
          "--"
          ;; Set all timestamps to 1.
diff --git a/gnu/build/install.scm b/gnu/build/install.scm
index 0aa227b4d8..6b5435f13c 100644
--- a/gnu/build/install.scm
+++ b/gnu/build/install.scm
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ (define-module (gnu build install)
   #:use-module (guix build store-copy)
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-26)
   #:use-module (ice-9 match)
-  #:export (install-boot-config
-            evaluate-populate-directive
+  #:export (evaluate-populate-directive
             populate-root-file-system
             install-database-and-gc-roots
             populate-single-profile-directory
@@ -42,19 +41,6 @@ (define-module (gnu build install)
 ;;;
 ;;; Code:
 
-(define (install-boot-config bootcfg bootcfg-location mount-point)
-  "Atomically copy BOOTCFG into BOOTCFG-LOCATION on the MOUNT-POINT.  Note
-that the caller must make sure that BOOTCFG is registered as a GC root so
-that the fonts, background images, etc. referred to by BOOTCFG are not GC'd."
-  (let* ((target (string-append mount-point bootcfg-location))
-         (pivot  (string-append target ".new")))
-    (mkdir-p (dirname target))
-
-    ;; Copy BOOTCFG instead of just symlinking it, because symlinks won't
-    ;; work when /boot is on a separate partition.  Do that atomically.
-    (copy-file bootcfg pivot)
-    (rename-file pivot target)))
-
 (define* (evaluate-populate-directive directive target
                                       #:key
                                       (default-gid 0)
diff --git a/gnu/machine/ssh.scm b/gnu/machine/ssh.scm
index 3a0c5f45c6..c38b63fded 100644
--- a/gnu/machine/ssh.scm
+++ b/gnu/machine/ssh.scm
@@ -510,18 +510,15 @@ (define system (machine-ssh-configuration-system config))
                                   (machine-ssh-session machine)
                                   (machine-become-command machine)))
 
-  (mlet %store-monad ((_ (check-deployment-sanity machine))
-                      (boot-alternatives (machine->boot-alternatives machine)))
+  (mlet %store-monad ((_ (check-deployment-sanity machine)))
     ;; Make sure code that check %CURRENT-SYSTEM, such as
     ;; %BASE-INITRD-MODULES, gets to see the right value.
     (parameterize ((%current-system system)
                    (%current-target-system #f))
       (let* ((os (machine-operating-system machine))
              (eval (cut machine-remote-eval machine <>))
-             (menu-entries (map boot-alternative->menu-entry
-                                boot-alternatives))
-             (bootloader-configuration (operating-system-bootloader os))
-             (bootcfg (operating-system-bootcfg os menu-entries)))
+             (bootloader-config (operating-system-bootloader os))
+             (bootmeta (operating-system-bootmeta os)))
         (define-syntax-rule (eval/error-handling condition handler ...)
           ;; Return a wrapper around EVAL such that HANDLER is evaluated if an
           ;; exception is raised.
@@ -553,13 +550,15 @@ (define-syntax-rule (eval/error-handling condition handler ...)
                                                       (inferior-exception-arguments
                                                        c)))
                                            os)
-                (install-bootloader (eval/error-handling c
-                                      (raise (formatted-message
-                                              (G_ "\
+                (mlet %store-monad
+                      ((boot-alternatives (machine->boot-alternatives machine)))
+                  (apply install-bootloader
+                    (eval/error-handling c
+                      (raise (formatted-message
+                               (G_ "\
 failed to install bootloader on '~a':~%~{~s ~}~%")
-                                              host
-                                              (inferior-exception-arguments c))))
-                                    bootloader-configuration bootcfg)))))))))
+                               host (inferior-exception-arguments c))))
+                    bootloader-config boot-alternatives bootmeta))))))))))
 
 
 ;;;
@@ -590,32 +589,23 @@ (define target-generation
   (define roll-back-failure
     (condition (&message (message (G_ "could not roll-back machine")))))
 
-  (mlet* %store-monad
-         ((boot-alternatives (machine->boot-alternatives machine))
-          (_ -> (when (< (length boot-alternatives) 2)
-                  (raise roll-back-failure)))
-          (chosen-alternative (second boot-alternatives))
-          (parameters (boot-alternative-parameters chosen-alternative))
-          (entries -> (list (boot-parameters->menu-entry parameters)))
-          (locale -> (boot-parameters-locale parameters))
-          (crypto-dev -> (boot-parameters-store-crypto-devices parameters))
-          (store-dir -> (boot-parameters-store-directory-prefix parameters))
-          (old-entries -> (map boot-parameters->menu-entry
-                               (drop boot-alternatives 2)))
-          (bootloader -> (operating-system-bootloader
-                          (machine-operating-system machine)))
-          (bootcfg (lower-object
-                    ((bootloader-configuration-file-generator
-                      (bootloader-configuration-bootloader
-                       bootloader))
-                     bootloader entries
-                     #:locale locale
-                     #:store-crypto-devices crypto-dev
-                     #:store-directory-prefix store-dir
-                     #:old-entries old-entries)))
-          (remote-result (machine-remote-eval machine remote-exp)))
-    (when (eqv? 'error remote-result)
-      (raise roll-back-failure))))
+  (mlet %store-monad
+      ((boot-alternatives (machine->boot-alternatives machine)))
+    (match boot-alternatives
+      ((first chosen rest ...)
+       (mlet %store-monad
+           ((remote-result (machine-remote-eval machine remote-exp)))
+         (when (eqv? 'error remote-result) (raise roll-back-failure)))
+       (let ((os (machine-operating-system machine))
+             (crypto-dev (boot-parameters-store-crypto-devices chosen))
+             (prefix (boot-parameters-store-directory-prefix chosen)))
+         (install-bootloader (cute machine-remote-eval machine <>)
+                             (operating-system-bootloader os)
+                             (cons* chosen first rest)
+                             #:locale (boot-parameters-locale chosen)
+                             #:store-crypto-devices crypto-dev
+                             #:store-directory-prefix prefix)))
+      (_ (raise roll-back-failure)))))
 
 
 ;;;
diff --git a/gnu/system.scm b/gnu/system.scm
index a3eee5aa24..85e02a9965 100644
--- a/gnu/system.scm
+++ b/gnu/system.scm
@@ -142,10 +142,11 @@ (define-module (gnu system)
 
             operating-system-derivation
             operating-system-profile
-            operating-system-bootcfg
+            operating-system-bootmeta
             operating-system-etc-directory
             operating-system-locale-directory
             operating-system-boot-script
+            operating-system-boot-parameters
             operating-system-uuid
 
             operating-system-with-gc-roots
@@ -196,7 +197,9 @@ (define-record-type* <operating-system> operating-system
                     (default %default-kernel-arguments)) ; list of gexps/strings
   (hurd operating-system-hurd
         (default #f))                             ; package
-  (bootloader operating-system-bootloader)        ; <bootloader-configuration>
+  (bootloader operating-system-bootloader         ; <bootloader-configuration>
+              (default '())
+              (sanitize wrap-element))
   (label operating-system-label                   ; string
          (thunked)
          (default (operating-system-default-label this-operating-system)))
@@ -1195,30 +1198,17 @@ (define (operating-system-store-file-system os)
   "Return the file system that contains the store of OS."
   (store-file-system (operating-system-file-systems os)))
 
-(define* (operating-system-bootcfg os #:optional (old-entries '()))
-  "Return the bootloader configuration file for OS.  Use OLD-ENTRIES,
-a list of <menu-entry>, to populate the \"old entries\" menu."
+(define (operating-system-bootmeta os)
+  "Return operating system information to be passed to the bootloader
+installers."
   (let* ((file-systems    (operating-system-file-systems os))
+         (store-root      (btrfs-store-subvolume-file-name file-systems))
          (root-fs         (operating-system-root-file-system os))
-         (root-device     (file-system-device root-fs))
          (locale          (operating-system-locale os))
-         (crypto-devices  (operating-system-bootloader-crypto-devices os))
-         (params          (operating-system-boot-parameters
-                           os root-device
-                           #:system-kernel-arguments? #t))
-         (entry           (boot-parameters->menu-entry params))
-         (bootloader-conf (operating-system-bootloader os)))
-
-    (define generate-config-file
-      (bootloader-configuration-file-generator
-       (bootloader-configuration-bootloader bootloader-conf)))
-
-    (generate-config-file bootloader-conf (list entry)
-                          #:old-entries old-entries
-                          #:locale locale
-                          #:store-crypto-devices crypto-devices
-                          #:store-directory-prefix
-			  (btrfs-store-subvolume-file-name file-systems))))
+         (crypto-devices  (operating-system-bootloader-crypto-devices os)))
+    (list #:store-crypto-devices crypto-devices
+          #:store-directory-prefix store-root
+          #:locale locale)))
 
 (define (operating-system-multiboot-modules os)
   (if (operating-system-hurd os) (hurd-multiboot-modules os) '()))
@@ -1282,9 +1272,9 @@ (define* (operating-system-boot-parameters os root-device
          (file-systems    (operating-system-file-systems os))
          (crypto-devices  (operating-system-bootloader-crypto-devices os))
          (locale          (operating-system-locale os))
-         (bootloader      (bootloader-configuration-bootloader
-                           (operating-system-bootloader os)))
-         (bootloader-name (bootloader-name bootloader))
+         (bootloader      (map bootloader-configuration-bootloader
+                               (operating-system-bootloader os)))
+         (bootloader-name (map bootloader-name bootloader))
          (label           (operating-system-label os))
          (multiboot-modules (operating-system-multiboot-modules os)))
     (boot-parameters
diff --git a/gnu/system/boot.scm b/gnu/system/boot.scm
index 98fcd2b3a0..2db5c258f0 100644
--- a/gnu/system/boot.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/boot.scm
@@ -166,7 +166,8 @@ (define (version? n)
 
       (bootloader-name
        (match (assq 'bootloader-name rest)
-         ((_ args) args)
+         ((_ (args ...)) args)
+         ((_ args) (list args))
          (#f       'grub))) ; for compatibility reasons.
 
       ;; In the past, we would store the directory name of linux instead of
diff --git a/gnu/system/image.scm b/gnu/system/image.scm
index 8ac91800ad..b58de1db14 100644
--- a/gnu/system/image.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/image.scm
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ (define-module (gnu system image)
   #:use-module (gnu services base)
   #:use-module (gnu system)
   #:use-module (gnu system accounts)
+  #:use-module (gnu system boot)
   #:use-module (gnu system file-systems)
   #:use-module (gnu system linux-container)
   #:use-module (gnu system uuid)
@@ -344,10 +345,6 @@ (define (find-root-partition image)
       (raise (formatted-message
               (G_ "image lacks a partition with the 'boot' flag")))))
 
-(define (root-partition-index image)
-  "Return the index of the root partition of the given IMAGE."
-  (1+ (srfi-1:list-index root-partition? (image-partitions image))))
-
 
 ;;
 ;; Disk image.
@@ -356,8 +353,8 @@ (define (root-partition-index image)
 (define* (system-disk-image image
                             #:key
                             (name "disk-image")
-                            bootcfg
-                            bootloader
+                            bootloader-config
+                            bootmeta
                             register-closures?
                             (inputs '()))
   "Return as a file-like object, the disk-image described by IMAGE.  Said
@@ -374,6 +371,28 @@ (define* (system-disk-image image
 
   (define genimage-name "image")
 
+  (define (targets current)
+    ;; provides list of target overrides for a given CURRENT partition, which
+    ;; may be #f for the full-disk targets.
+
+    ;; XXX: how we pass paths is v much a hack
+    (cons (bootloader-target
+            (type 'disk)
+            (device (and (not current) (string-append "images/" genimage-name)))
+            (expected? (->bool current)))
+      (map (lambda (partition)
+             (let ((current? (and current (eq? (partition-target partition)
+                                               (partition-target current)))))
+               (bootloader-target
+                 (type (partition-target partition))
+                 (expected? (not current?))
+                 (path (and current? "tmp-root"))
+                 (offset #f)
+                 (file-system (partition-file-system partition))
+                 (label (partition-label partition))
+                 (uuid (partition-uuid partition)))))
+        (filter partition-target (image-partitions image)))))
+
   (define (image->genimage-cfg image)
     ;; Return as a file-like object, the genimage configuration file
     ;; describing the given IMAGE.
@@ -454,7 +473,8 @@ (define (partition-image partition)
                                    (list dosfstools fakeroot mtools))
                                   (else
                                     '())))
-                     (image-root "tmp-root"))
+                     (image-root (string-append (getcwd) "/tmp-root"))
+                     (copy-closures? (not #$(image-shared-store? image))))
                  (sql-schema #$schema)
 
                  (set-path-environment-variable "PATH" '("bin" "sbin") inputs)
@@ -470,18 +490,13 @@ (define (partition-image partition)
                  (initializer image-root
                               #:references-graphs '#$graph
                               #:deduplicate? #f
-                              #:copy-closures? (not
-                                                #$(image-shared-store? image))
-                              #:system-directory #$os
-                              #:grub-efi #+grub-efi
-                              #:grub-efi32 #+grub-efi32
-                              #:bootloader-package
-                              #+(bootloader-package bootloader)
-                              #:bootloader-installer
-                              #+(bootloader-installer bootloader)
-                              #:bootcfg #$bootcfg
-                              #:bootcfg-location
-                              #$(bootloader-configuration-file bootloader))
+                              #:copy-closures? copy-closures?
+                              #:system-directory #$os)
+                 ;; no point installing a bootloader if we don't populate store
+                 (when copy-closures?
+                   ;; root-offset isn't necessary - we override 'root
+                   #$(bootloader-configurations->gexp bootloader-config bootmeta
+                       #:overrides (targets partition)))
                  (make-partition-image #$(partition->gexp partition)
                                        #$output
                                        image-root)))))
@@ -528,14 +543,6 @@ (define (genimage-type-options image-type image)
                 (image-partition-table-type image)))
        (else "")))
 
-    (when (and (memq (bootloader-name bootloader)
-                     '(grub-efi grub-efi32 grub-efi-removable-bootloader))
-               (not
-                (gpt-image? image)))
-      (raise
-       (formatted-message
-        (G_ "EFI bootloader required with GPT partitioning"))))
-
     (let* ((format (image-format image))
            (image-type (format->image-type format))
            (image-type-options (genimage-type-options image-type image))
@@ -546,13 +553,15 @@ (define (genimage-type-options image-type image)
                 (let ((format (@ (ice-9 format) format)))
                   (call-with-output-file #$output
                     (lambda (port)
-                      (format port
-                              "\
+                      (format port "\
 image ~a {
 ~/~a {~a}
 ~{~a~^~%~}
-}~%" #$genimage-name #$image-type #$image-type-options
- (list #$@partitions-config))))))))
+}~%"
+                        #$genimage-name
+                        #$image-type
+                        #$image-type-options
+                        (list #$@partitions-config))))))))
       (computed-file "genimage.cfg" builder)))
 
   (let* ((image-name (image-name image))
@@ -564,17 +573,13 @@ (define (genimage-type-options image-type image)
          (builder
           (with-imported-modules*
            (let ((inputs '#+(list genimage coreutils findutils qemu-minimal))
-                 (bootloader-installer
-                  #+(bootloader-disk-image-installer bootloader))
                  (out-image (string-append "images/" #$genimage-name)))
              (set-path-environment-variable "PATH" '("bin" "sbin") inputs)
              (genimage #$(image->genimage-cfg image))
-             ;; Install the bootloader directly on the disk-image.
-             (when bootloader-installer
-               (bootloader-installer
-                #+(bootloader-package bootloader)
-                #$(root-partition-index image)
-                out-image))
+             ;; Don't install bootloader unless installing store.
+             (unless #$(image-shared-store? image)
+               #$(bootloader-configurations->gexp bootloader-config bootmeta
+                                                  #:overrides (targets #f)))
              (convert-disk-image out-image '#$format #$output)))))
     (computed-file name builder
                    #:local-build? #f              ;too I/O-intensive
@@ -594,8 +599,8 @@ (define (has-guix-service-type? os)
 (define* (system-iso9660-image image
                                #:key
                                (name "image.iso")
-                               bootcfg
-                               bootloader
+                               bootloader-config
+                               bootmeta
                                register-closures?
                                (inputs '())
                                (grub-mkrescue-environment '()))
@@ -615,7 +620,6 @@ (define root-uuid
        (uuid-bytevector (partition-uuid partition)))))
 
   (let* ((os (image-operating-system image))
-         (bootloader (bootloader-package bootloader))
          (compression? (image-compression? image))
          (substitutable? (image-substitutable? image))
          (schema (local-file (search-path %load-path
@@ -623,6 +627,14 @@ (define root-uuid
          (graph (match inputs
                   (((names . _) ...)
                    names)))
+         (config (bootloader-configuration
+                   (bootloader grub-bootloader)
+                   (targets (list (bootloader-target
+                                    (type 'root)
+                                    (path "tmp-root"))
+                                  (bootloader-target
+                                    (type 'install)
+                                    (path "boot/grub"))))))
          (builder
           (with-imported-modules*
            (let* ((inputs '#$(list parted e2fsprogs dosfstools xorriso
@@ -643,10 +655,12 @@ (define root-uuid
                                         #:references-graphs '#$graph
                                         #:deduplicate? #f
                                         #:system-directory #$os)
+
              (make-iso9660-image #$xorriso
                                  '#$grub-mkrescue-environment
-                                 #$bootloader
-                                 #$bootcfg
+                                 #$grub-hybrid
+                                 #$(apply grub.dir grub-hybrid
+                                     #:bootloader-config config bootmeta)
                                  #$os
                                  image-root
                                  #$output
@@ -948,11 +962,7 @@ (define (root-uuid os)
                              file-systems
                              #:volatile-root? volatile-root?
                              rest)))
-            (bootloader (if (eq? format 'iso9660)
-                            (bootloader-configuration
-                             (inherit
-                              (operating-system-bootloader base-os))
-                             (bootloader grub-mkrescue-bootloader))
+            (bootloader (if (eq? format 'iso9660) '()
                             (operating-system-bootloader base-os)))
             (file-systems (cons (file-system
                                   (mount-point "/")
@@ -1001,17 +1011,28 @@ (define target (cond
            (image* (image-with-os* image os))
            (image-format (image-format image))
            (register-closures? (has-guix-service-type? os))
-           (bootcfg (operating-system-bootcfg os))
-           (bootloader (bootloader-configuration-bootloader
-                        (operating-system-bootloader os))))
+           ;; Force removable: images don't have efivarfs.
+           (bootloader-config (map (lambda (c) (bootloader-configuration
+                                                 (inherit c)
+                                                 (efi-removable? #t)))
+                                   (operating-system-bootloader os)))
+           (alt (boot-alternative
+                  (generation 1)
+                  (system-path "/var/guix/profiles/system-1-link")
+                  (epoch 0)
+                  (parameters (operating-system-boot-parameters os
+                                (partition-uuid (find-root-partition image*))
+                                #:system-kernel-arguments? #t))))
+           (bootmeta (cons* #:current-boot-alternative alt
+                            #:old-boot-alternatives '()
+                            (operating-system-bootmeta os))))
       (cond
        ((memq image-format '(disk-image compressed-qcow2))
          (system-disk-image image*
-                            #:bootcfg bootcfg
-                            #:bootloader bootloader
+                            #:bootloader-config bootloader-config
+                            #:bootmeta bootmeta
                             #:register-closures? register-closures?
-                            #:inputs `(("system" ,os)
-                                       ("bootcfg" ,bootcfg))))
+                            #:inputs `(("system" ,os))))
        ((memq image-format '(docker))
         (system-docker-image image*))
        ((memq image-format '(tarball))
@@ -1021,11 +1042,10 @@ (define target (cond
        ((memq image-format '(iso9660))
          (system-iso9660-image
           image*
-          #:bootcfg bootcfg
-          #:bootloader bootloader
+          #:bootloader-config bootloader-config
+          #:bootmeta bootmeta
           #:register-closures? register-closures?
-          #:inputs `(("system" ,os)
-                     ("bootcfg" ,bootcfg))
+          #:inputs `(("system" ,os))
           ;; Make sure to use a mode that does no imply
           ;; HFS+ tree creation that may fail with:
           ;;
diff --git a/guix/scripts/system.scm b/guix/scripts/system.scm
index 6b6bb46975..306c7ce6de 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/system.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/system.scm
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ (define state
 
 (define* (install os-drv target
                   #:key (log-port (current-output-port))
-                  install-bootloader? bootloader bootcfg)
+                  install-bootloader? bootloaders bootmeta)
   "Copy the closure of BOOTCFG, which includes the output of OS-DRV, to
 directory TARGET.  TARGET must be an absolute directory name since that's what
 'register-path' expects.
@@ -249,24 +249,25 @@ (define (maybe-copy to-copy)
   (chmod target #o755)
   (let ((os-dir   (derivation->output-path os-drv))
         (format   (lift format %store-monad))
-        (populate (lift2 populate-root-file-system %store-monad)))
-
-    (mlet %store-monad ((bootcfg (lower-object bootcfg)))
-      (mbegin %store-monad
-        ;; Copy the closure of BOOTCFG, which includes OS-DIR,
-        ;; eventual background image and so on.
-        (maybe-copy (derivation->output-path bootcfg))
-
-        ;; Create a bunch of additional files.
-        (format log-port "populating '~a'...~%" target)
-        (populate os-dir target)
-
-        (mwhen install-bootloader?
-          (install-bootloader local-eval bootloader bootcfg
-                              #:target target)
-          (return
-           (info (G_ "bootloader successfully installed on~{ ~a~}~%")
-                 (bootloader-configuration-targets bootloader))))))))
+        (populate (lift2 populate-root-file-system %store-monad))
+        (profile  (string-append target "/var/guix/profiles/system")))
+    (mbegin %store-monad
+      ;; Create a bunch of system files.
+      (format log-port "populating '~a'...~%" target)
+      (populate os-dir target)
+      ;; Copy the bootloader's closure, which includes OS-DIR,
+      ;; eventual background image and so on.
+      (mlet* %store-monad
+          ((alt -> (generation->boot-alternative profile 1))
+           (inst (apply install-bootloader local-eval bootloaders
+                        (list alt) #:dry-run? (not install-bootloader?)
+                        #:root-offset target bootmeta)))
+        (maybe-copy (derivation->output-path inst)))
+      (mwhen install-bootloader?
+        (return
+          (info (G_ "bootloader successfully installed on~{ ~a~}~%")
+                (flat-map bootloader-configuration-targets
+                          bootloaders)))))))
 
 
 ;;;
@@ -388,18 +389,12 @@ (define (install-bootloader-from-os store number os)
 for system profile generation NUMBER, with store STORE."
   (let* ((os (read-operating-system os))
          (bootloader-config (operating-system-bootloader os))
+         (new (generation->boot-alternative %system-profile number))
          (numbers (generation-numbers %system-profile))
          (numbers (delv number (reverse numbers)))
-         (old (profile->boot-alternatives %system-profile numbers))
-         (bootcfg (operating-system-bootcfg os old)))
-    (run-with-store store
-      (mlet* %store-monad ((bootcfg (lower-object bootcfg))
-                           (drvs -> (list bootcfg)))
-        (mbegin %store-monad
-          (built-derivations drvs)
-          ;; Only install bootloader configuration file.
-          (install-bootloader local-eval bootloader-config bootcfg
-                              #:run-installer? #f))))))
+         (old (profile->boot-alternatives %system-profile numbers)))
+    (apply install-bootloader local-eval (operating-system-bootloader os)
+           (cons new old) (operating-system-bootmeta os))))
 
 (define (install-bootloader-from-provenance store number)
   "Re-install an old bootloader using provenance data for system profile
@@ -494,7 +489,8 @@ (define-values (channels config-file)
       (format #t (G_ "  canonical file name: ~a~%") (readlink* generation))
       ;; TRANSLATORS: Please preserve the two-space indentation.
       (format #t (G_ "  label: ~a~%") label)
-      (format #t (G_ "  bootloader: ~a~%") bootloader-name)
+      (format #t (G_ "  bootloader: ~a~%")
+        (string-join (map symbol->string bootloader-name)))
 
       ;; TRANSLATORS: The '~[', '~;', and '~]' sequences in this string must
       ;; be preserved.  They denote conditionals, such that the result will
@@ -780,17 +776,11 @@ (define println
   (define os
     (image-operating-system image))
 
-  (define bootloader
+  (define bootloaders
     (operating-system-bootloader os))
 
-  (define bootcfg
-    (and (memq action '(init reconfigure))
-         (operating-system-bootcfg
-          os
-          (if (eq? action 'init)
-              '()
-              (map boot-alternative->menu-entry
-                   (profile->boot-alternatives))))))
+  (define bootmeta
+    (operating-system-bootmeta os))
 
   (when (eq? action 'reconfigure)
     (maybe-suggest-running-guix-pull)
@@ -821,10 +811,7 @@ (define bootcfg
        ;; For 'init' and 'reconfigure', always build BOOTCFG, even if
        ;; --no-bootloader is passed, because we then use it as a GC root.
        ;; See <http://bugs.gnu.org/21068>.
-       (drvs      (mapm/accumulate-builds lower-object
-                                          (if (memq action '(init reconfigure))
-                                              (list sys bootcfg)
-                                              (list sys))))
+       (drvs      (mapm/accumulate-builds lower-object (list sys)))
        (%         (if derivations-only?
                       (return (for-each (compose println derivation-file-name)
                                         drvs))
@@ -842,12 +829,16 @@ (define bootcfg
              (format #t (G_ "activating system...~%"))
              (mbegin %store-monad
                (switch-to-system local-eval os)
+               (apply install-bootloader local-eval bootloaders
+                 (profile->boot-alternatives)
+                 #:dry-run? (not install-bootloader?)
+                 (if target (cons* #:root-offset target bootmeta) bootmeta))
                (mwhen install-bootloader?
-                 (install-bootloader local-eval bootloader bootcfg
-                                     #:target (or target "/"))
                  (return
                   (info (G_ "bootloader successfully installed on '~a'~%")
-                        (bootloader-configuration-targets bootloader))))
+                    (map bootloader-target-path
+                      (flat-map bootloader-configuration-targets
+                                bootloaders)))))
                (with-shepherd-error-handling
                 (upgrade-shepherd-services local-eval os)
                 (return (format #t (G_ "\
@@ -861,8 +852,8 @@ (define bootcfg
                      target)
              (install sys (canonicalize-path target)
                       #:install-bootloader? install-bootloader?
-                      #:bootloader bootloader
-                      #:bootcfg bootcfg))
+                      #:bootloaders bootloaders
+                      #:bootmeta bootmeta))
             (else
              ;; All we had to do was to build SYS and maybe register an
              ;; indirect GC root.
@@ -1258,11 +1249,7 @@ (define save-provenance?
                             (G_ "image lacks an operating-system")))))
          (target-file (match args
                         ((first second) second)
-                        (_ #f)))
-         (bootloader-targets
-                      (and bootloader?
-                           (bootloader-configuration-targets
-                            (operating-system-bootloader os)))))
+                        (_ #f))))
 
     (define (graph-backend)
       (lookup-backend (assoc-ref opts 'graph-backend)))
diff --git a/guix/scripts/system/reconfigure.scm b/guix/scripts/system/reconfigure.scm
index 604ba08fee..9b92198076 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/system/reconfigure.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/system/reconfigure.scm
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 ;;; Copyright © 2019 Christopher Baines <mail@cbaines.net>
 ;;; Copyright © 2019 Jakob L. Kreuze <zerodaysfordays@sdf.org>
 ;;; Copyright © 2022 Arun Isaac <arunisaac@systemreboot.net>
+;;; Copyright © 2024 Lilah Tascheter <lilah@lunabee.space>
 ;;;
 ;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
 ;;;
@@ -209,101 +210,84 @@ (define target-services
 ;;; Bootloader configuration.
 ;;;
 
-(define (install-bootloader-program installer disk-installer
-                                    bootloader-package bootcfg
-                                    bootcfg-file devices target)
+(define (install-bootloader-program configs offset chosen-alt old-alts locale
+                                    store-crypto-devices store-directory-prefix)
   "Return an executable store item that, upon being evaluated, will install
 BOOTCFG to BOOTCFG-FILE, a target file name, on DEVICES, a list of file system
 devices, at TARGET, a mount point, and subsequently run INSTALLER from
 BOOTLOADER-PACKAGE."
   (program-file
-   "install-bootloader.scm"
-   (with-extensions (list guile-gcrypt)
-     (with-imported-modules `(,@(source-module-closure
-                                 '((gnu build bootloader)
-                                   (gnu build install)
-                                   (guix store)
-                                   (guix utils))
-                                 #:select? not-config?)
-                              ((guix config) => ,(make-config.scm)))
-       #~(begin
-           (use-modules (gnu build bootloader)
-                        (gnu build install)
-                        (guix build utils)
-                        (guix store)
-                        (guix utils)
-                        (ice-9 binary-ports)
-                        (ice-9 match)
-                        (srfi srfi-34)
-                        (srfi srfi-35))
+    "install-bootloader.scm"
+    ;; three sources of boot entries: bootloader-configuration-menu-entries,
+    ;; current-boot-alternative, and old-boot-alternatives.
+    (let ((args (list #:current-boot-alternative chosen-alt
+                      #:old-boot-alternatives old-alts
+                      #:locale locale
+                      #:store-directory-prefix store-directory-prefix
+                      #:store-crypto-devices store-crypto-devices)))
+      (with-extensions (list guile-gcrypt)
+        (with-imported-modules
+          `(,@(source-module-closure '((gnu build bootloader)
+                                       (gnu build install)
+                                       (guix store)
+                                       (guix utils))
+                                     #:select? not-config?)
+            ((guix config) => ,(make-config.scm)))
+          #~(begin
+              (use-modules (gnu build bootloader)
+                           (gnu build install)
+                           (guix build utils)
+                           (guix store)
+                           (guix utils)
+                           (ice-9 binary-ports)
+                           (ice-9 match)
+                           (srfi srfi-34)
+                           (srfi srfi-35))
+              ;; bootloader-installer is passed an additional #:target argument
+              ;; denoting the specific target currently being installed to.
+              ;; bootloaders should determine when to fully reinstall themselves.
+              #$(bootloader-configurations->gexp configs args
+                                                 #:root-offset offset)))))))
 
-           (let* ((gc-root (string-append #$target %gc-roots-directory "/bootcfg"))
-                  (new-gc-root (string-append gc-root ".new")))
-             ;; #$bootcfg has dependencies.
-             ;; The bootloader magically loads the configuration from
-             ;; (string-append #$target #$bootcfg-file) (for example
-             ;; "/boot/grub/grub.cfg").
-             ;; If we didn't do something special, the garbage collector
-             ;; would remove the dependencies of #$bootcfg.
-             ;; Register #$bootcfg as a GC root.
-             ;; Preserve the previous activation's garbage collector root
-             ;; until the bootloader installer has run, so that a failure in
-             ;; the bootloader's installer script doesn't leave the user with
-             ;; a broken installation.
-             (switch-symlinks new-gc-root #$bootcfg)
-             (install-boot-config #$bootcfg #$bootcfg-file #$target)
-             (when (or #$installer #$disk-installer)
-               (catch #t
-                 (lambda ()
-                   ;; The bootloader might not support installation on a
-                   ;; mounted directory using the BOOTLOADER-INSTALLER
-                   ;; procedure. In that case, fallback to installing the
-                   ;; bootloader directly on DEVICES using the
-                   ;; BOOTLOADER-DISK-IMAGE-INSTALLER procedure.
-                   (if #$installer
-                       (for-each (lambda (device)
-                                   (#$installer #$bootloader-package device
-                                                #$target))
-                                 '#$devices)
-                       (for-each (lambda (device)
-                                   (#$disk-installer #$bootloader-package
-                                                     0 device))
-                                 '#$devices)))
-                 (lambda args
-                   (delete-file new-gc-root)
-                   (match args
-                     (('%exception exception)     ;Guile 3 SRFI-34 or similar
-                      (raise-exception exception))
-                     ((key . args)
-                      (apply throw key args))))))
-             ;; We are sure that the installation of the bootloader
-             ;; succeeded, so we can replace the old GC root by the new
-             ;; GC root now.
-             (rename-file new-gc-root gc-root)))))))
-
-(define* (install-bootloader eval configuration bootcfg
+(define* (install-bootloader eval configs alts
                              #:key
-                             (run-installer? #t)
-                             (target "/"))
+                             store-crypto-devices store-directory-prefix
+                             (root-offset "/") dry-run? locale)
   "Using EVAL, a monadic procedure taking a single G-Expression as an argument,
-configure the bootloader on TARGET such that OS will be booted by default and
-additional configurations specified by MENU-ENTRIES can be selected."
-  (let* ((bootloader (bootloader-configuration-bootloader configuration))
-         (installer (and run-installer?
-                         (bootloader-installer bootloader)))
-         (disk-installer (and run-installer?
-                              (bootloader-disk-image-installer bootloader)))
-         (package (bootloader-package bootloader))
-         (devices (bootloader-configuration-targets configuration))
-         (bootcfg-file (bootloader-configuration-file bootloader)))
-    (eval #~(parameterize ((current-warning-port (%make-void-port "w")))
-              (primitive-load #$(install-bootloader-program installer
-                                                            disk-installer
-                                                            package
-                                                            bootcfg
-                                                            bootcfg-file
-                                                            devices
-                                                            target))))))
+configure the bootloader with bootloader-configuration CONFIG such that
+ALTS may be selected, with the first element being the default.  If QUICK? only
+the bootloader config is reinstalled.  Returns the config installer drv."
+  (mlet* %store-monad
+         ((program (lower-object
+                     (install-bootloader-program configs root-offset
+                       (car alts) (cdr alts) locale
+                       store-crypto-devices store-directory-prefix))))
+    (mbegin %store-monad
+      (eval
+        (with-imported-modules `(,@(source-module-closure '((guix build utils)
+                                                            (guix store))
+                                                          #:select? not-config?)
+                                 ((guix config) => ,(make-config.scm)))
+          #~(begin
+              (use-modules (guix build utils) (guix store))
+              (parameterize ((current-warning-port (%make-void-port "w")))
+                (let* ((gc-root (string-append
+                                  #$root-offset %gc-roots-directory "/bootcfg"))
+                       (new-gc-root (string-append gc-root ".new")))
+                  ;; since the installers are gexps directly included, we add
+                  ;; the installer runner as a gc root.  this should make sure
+                  ;; no bootloader files get gc'd.  only remove the old one on
+                  ;; success.
+                  ;; XXX: is this still necessary?
+                  (switch-symlinks new-gc-root #$program)
+                  (dynamic-wind (const #t)
+                    (lambda ()
+                      (unless #$dry-run? (primitive-load #$program))
+                      (rename-file new-gc-root gc-root))
+                    (lambda () ; delete new root if failed
+                      (when (file-exists? new-gc-root)
+                        (delete-file new-gc-root)))))))))
+      (return program))))
 
 
 ;;;