diff --git a/initramfs-init b/initramfs-init
index 0ddf10d..bb4aae1 100755
--- a/initramfs-init
+++ b/initramfs-init
@@ -185,13 +185,12 @@ done
 if [ -n "$KOPT_chart" ]; then
 	pkgs="$pkgs acct"
 fi
-apk add --root /newroot --initdb --quiet --progress $pkgs >/dev/null
-eend $?
-
-# kill .apk-new files
+apkflags=""
 if [ -z "$KOPT_keep_apk_new" ]; then
-	find /newroot/etc -name '*.apk-new' | xargs rm -f
+	apkflags="--clean-protected"
 fi
+apk add --root /newroot --initdb --quiet --progress $apkflags $pkgs >/dev/null
+eend $?
 
 # copy alpine release info
 cp $ALPINE_MNT/.alpine-release $NEWROOT/