diff --git a/openstack_virtual_baremetal/build_nodes_json.py b/openstack_virtual_baremetal/build_nodes_json.py
index b011882..0785c31 100755
--- a/openstack_virtual_baremetal/build_nodes_json.py
+++ b/openstack_virtual_baremetal/build_nodes_json.py
@@ -228,6 +228,8 @@ def _build_nodes(nova, glance, bmc_bm_port_pairs, provision_net_map,
             image = cache.get(baremetal.image['id'])
             if image.get('hw_firmware_type') == 'uefi':
                 node['capabilities'] += ",boot_mode:uefi"
+            else:
+                node['capabilities'] += ",boot_mode:bios"
         else:
             # With boot from volume the flavor disk size doesn't matter.  We
             # need to look up the volume disk size.
diff --git a/openstack_virtual_baremetal/tests/test_build_nodes_json.py b/openstack_virtual_baremetal/tests/test_build_nodes_json.py
index 67740a2..f86c427 100644
--- a/openstack_virtual_baremetal/tests/test_build_nodes_json.py
+++ b/openstack_virtual_baremetal/tests/test_build_nodes_json.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from openstack_virtual_baremetal import build_nodes_json
 
 
 TEST_NODES = [{'arch': 'x86_64',
-               'capabilities': 'boot_option:local',
+               'capabilities': 'boot_option:local,boot_mode:bios',
                'cpu': 128,
                'disk': 1024,
                'ports': [{'address': 'aa:aa:aa:aa:aa:aa'}],