diff --git a/handlers/main.yml b/handlers/main.yml
index f3b555d2..4f9056e5 100644
--- a/handlers/main.yml
+++ b/handlers/main.yml
@@ -3,21 +3,25 @@
   service:
     name: chronyd
     state: restarted
+  when: __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
 
 - name: Restart ntpd
   service:
     name: ntpd
     state: restarted
+  when: __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
 
 - name: Restart ptp4l
   service:
     name: ptp4l
     state: restarted
+  when: __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
 
 - name: Restart phc2sys
   service:
     name: phc2sys
     state: restarted
+  when: __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
 
 # wokeignore:rule=master
 - name: Restart timemaster
@@ -25,3 +29,4 @@
     # wokeignore:rule=master
     name: timemaster
     state: restarted
+  when: __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
diff --git a/meta/main.yml b/meta/main.yml
index f11ec9df..bc66dff2 100644
--- a/meta/main.yml
+++ b/meta/main.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ galaxy_info:
   galaxy_tags:
     - centos
     - chrony
+    - containerbuild
     - el6
     - el7
     - el8
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index c4d331f1..c94cfff6 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 - name: Populate service facts
   service_facts:
+  when: __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
 
 - name: Set variable `timesync_services` with filtered uniq service names
   set_fact:
@@ -18,6 +19,24 @@
           map('regex_replace', '@$', '') |
           unique |
           list }}"
+  when: __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
+
+- name: Populate service facts when in bootc mode
+  command: systemctl list-unit-files --type=service -l  # noqa command-instead-of-module
+  register: timesync_services_output
+  changed_when: false
+  when: not __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
+
+- name: Set variable `timesync_services` with filtered uniq service names when in bootc mode
+  set_fact:
+    timesync_services: "{{ timesync_services_output.stdout_lines |
+      select('search', ' enabled$') |
+      map('regex_replace', ' +enabled$', '') |
+      map('regex_replace', '[.]service.*$', '') |
+      map('regex_replace', '@$', '') |
+      unique |
+      list }}"
+  when: not __timesync_is_booted | d(false)
 
 - name: Check that variable 'timesync_services' is defined
   assert:
@@ -250,7 +269,7 @@
 - name: Disable chronyd
   service:
     name: chronyd
-    state: stopped
+    state: "{{ 'stopped' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: false
   when:
     - timesync_mode != 1 or timesync_ntp_provider != 'chrony'
@@ -264,7 +283,7 @@
 - name: Disable ntpd
   service:
     name: ntpd
-    state: stopped
+    state: "{{ 'stopped' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: false
   when:
     - timesync_mode != 1 or timesync_ntp_provider != 'ntp'
@@ -278,7 +297,7 @@
 - name: Disable ntpdate
   service:
     name: ntpdate
-    state: stopped
+    state: "{{ 'stopped' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: false
   when: "'ntpdate' in timesync_services"
   register: __disable_result
@@ -290,7 +309,7 @@
 - name: Disable sntp
   service:
     name: sntp
-    state: stopped
+    state: "{{ 'stopped' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: false
   when: "'sntp' in timesync_services"
   register: __disable_result
@@ -302,7 +321,7 @@
 - name: Disable ptp4l
   service:
     name: ptp4l
-    state: stopped
+    state: "{{ 'stopped' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: false
   when:
     - timesync_mode != 2
@@ -316,7 +335,7 @@
 - name: Disable phc2sys
   service:
     name: phc2sys
-    state: stopped
+    state: "{{ 'stopped' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: false
   when:
     - timesync_mode != 2 or not timesync_mode2_hwts
@@ -334,7 +353,7 @@
     __timemstr: timemaster
   service:
     name: "{{ __timemstr }}"
-    state: stopped
+    state: "{{ 'stopped' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: false
   when:
     - timesync_mode != 3
@@ -348,7 +367,7 @@
 - name: Enable chronyd
   service:
     name: chronyd
-    state: started
+    state: "{{ 'started' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: true
   when:
     - timesync_mode == 1
@@ -357,7 +376,7 @@
 - name: Enable ntpd
   service:
     name: ntpd
-    state: started
+    state: "{{ 'started' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: true
   when:
     - timesync_mode == 1
@@ -366,14 +385,14 @@
 - name: Enable ptp4l
   service:
     name: ptp4l
-    state: started
+    state: "{{ 'started' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: true
   when: timesync_mode == 2
 
 - name: Enable phc2sys
   service:
     name: phc2sys
-    state: started
+    state: "{{ 'started' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: true
   when:
     - timesync_mode == 2
@@ -384,6 +403,6 @@
   service:
     # wokeignore:rule=master
     name: timemaster
-    state: started
+    state: "{{ 'started' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
     enabled: true
   when: timesync_mode == 3
diff --git a/tasks/set_vars.yml b/tasks/set_vars.yml
index d391ac0b..9d455a86 100644
--- a/tasks/set_vars.yml
+++ b/tasks/set_vars.yml
@@ -43,3 +43,24 @@
         - "default.yml"
       paths:
         - "{{ role_path }}/vars"
+
+- name: Determine if system is booted with systemd
+  when: __timesync_is_booted is not defined
+  block:
+    - name: Run systemctl
+      # noqa command-instead-of-module
+      command: systemctl is-system-running
+      register: __is_system_running
+      changed_when: false
+      failed_when: false
+      check_mode: false
+
+    - name: Require installed systemd
+      fail:
+        msg: "Error: This role requires systemd to be installed."
+      when: '"No such file or directory" in __is_system_running.msg | d("")'
+
+    - name: Set flag to indicate that systemd runtime operations are available
+      set_fact:
+        # see https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/systemctl.1.html#:~:text=is-system-running%20output
+        __timesync_is_booted: "{{ __is_system_running.stdout != 'offline' }}"
diff --git a/tests/inventory.yaml.j2 b/tests/inventory.yaml.j2
index c3dffa24..2319aa8c 100644
--- a/tests/inventory.yaml.j2
+++ b/tests/inventory.yaml.j2
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 all:
   hosts:
     {{ inventory_hostname }}:
-{% for key in ["ansible_all_ipv4_addresses", "ansible_all_ipv6_addresses",
+{% if __ansible_connection in ["local", "buildah"] %}
+      ansible_connection: {{ __ansible_connection }}
+      ansible_host: localhost
+{% else %}
+{%   for key in ["ansible_all_ipv4_addresses", "ansible_all_ipv6_addresses",
                  "ansible_default_ipv4", "ansible_default_ipv6", "ansible_host",
                  "ansible_port", "ansible_ssh_common_args",
                  "ansible_ssh_private_key_file","ansible_user"] %}
-{%   if key in hostvars[inventory_hostname] %}
-      {{ key }}: {{ hostvars[inventory_hostname][key] }}
-{%   endif %}
-{% endfor %}
+{%     if key in hostvars[inventory_hostname] %}
+      {{ key }}: {{ hostvars[inventory_hostname][key] | to_json }}
+{%     endif %}
+{%   endfor %}
+{% endif %}
diff --git a/tests/tasks/setup.yml b/tests/tasks/setup.yml
index c7442bf9..c28be317 100644
--- a/tests/tasks/setup.yml
+++ b/tests/tasks/setup.yml
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 ---
 # common test setup tasks
-- name: Determine if system is ostree and set flag
-  when: not __timesync_is_ostree is defined
-  block:
-    - name: Check if system is ostree
-      stat:
-        path: /run/ostree-booted
-      register: __ostree_booted_stat
+- name: Run the role only to get vars needed for validation
+  include_role:
+    name: linux-system-roles.timesync
+    public: true
+    tasks_from: set_vars.yml
 
-    - name: Set flag to indicate system is ostree
-      set_fact:
-        __timesync_is_ostree: "{{ __ostree_booted_stat.stat.exists }}"
+- name: Skip test on ostree systems if unsupported
+  meta: end_host
+  when:
+    - __timesync_ostree_unsupported | d(false)
+    - __timesync_is_ostree | d(false)
 
 - name: Ensure iproute for gathering default_ipv4 fact
   package:
@@ -25,20 +25,9 @@
   when: __required_facts |
     difference(ansible_facts.keys() | list) | length > 0
   vars:
-    __required_facts:
-      - default_ipv4
-      - distribution
-      - distribution_major_version
-      - distribution_version
-      - os_family
+    __required_facts: "{{ __timesync_required_facts + ['default_ipv4'] }}"
     __required_facts_subsets: "{{ ['!all', '!min'] + __required_facts }}"
 
 - name: Debug
   debug:
     msg: facts {{ ansible_facts | to_nice_json }}
-
-- name: Skip test on ostree systems if unsupported
-  meta: end_host
-  when:
-    - __timesync_ostree_unsupported | d(false)
-    - __timesync_is_ostree | d(false)
diff --git a/tests/tests_chrony.yml b/tests/tests_chrony.yml
index cd3c89fc..c3a51923 100644
--- a/tests/tests_chrony.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_chrony.yml
@@ -25,16 +25,59 @@
       include_role:
         name: linux-system-roles.timesync
         public: true
+      when: not __bootc_validation | d(false)
+
+    - name: Run the role only to get vars needed for validation
+      include_role:
+        name: linux-system-roles.timesync
+        public: true
+        tasks_from: set_vars.yml
+      when: __bootc_validation | d(false)
 
     - name: Run chrony tests
       tags: tests::verify
       block:
         - name: Flush handlers
           meta: flush_handlers
+          when: not __bootc_validation | d(false)
 
         - name: Wait for services to start
           wait_for:
             timeout: 2
+          when: not __bootc_validation | d(false)
+
+        - name: Create QEMU deployment during bootc end-to-end test
+          delegate_to: localhost
+          command: "{{ lsr_scriptdir | quote }}/bootc-buildah-qcow.sh {{ ansible_host | quote }}"
+          changed_when: true
+          when: ansible_connection == "buildah"
+
+        - name: Check headers for ansible_managed, fingerprint
+          include_tasks: tasks/check_header.yml
+          loop:
+            - "{{ timesync_chrony_conf_path }}"
+            - "{{ timesync_chrony_sysconfig_path }}"
+          loop_control:
+            loop_var: __file
+          vars:
+            __fingerprint: "system_role:timesync"
+
+        # check settings in files - only check we can do in non-booted mode
+        - name: Check for settings in chrony.conf
+          command: grep -q {{ item | quote }} {{ timesync_chrony_conf_path }}
+          loop: "{{ timesync_chrony_custom_settings +
+            (timesync_ntp_servers | selectattr('hostname') | map(attribute='hostname') | list) +
+            ['makestep ' ~ timesync_step_threshold ~ ' 3'] +
+            ([sourcedirstr] if sourcedirstr | length > 0 else []) }}"
+          vars:
+            sourcedirstr: "{{ 'sourcedir ' ~ timesync_chrony_dhcp_sourcedir
+              if timesync_dhcp_ntp_servers and timesync_chrony_dhcp_sourcedir
+              else '' }}"
+          changed_when: false
+
+        - name: Skip remaining checks unless booted
+          meta: end_host
+          when: not __timesync_is_booted
 
         - name: Get list of currently used time sources
           shell: chronyc -n sources || ntpq -pn
@@ -58,16 +101,6 @@
             that:
               - "'tracking.log' in logfiles.stdout"
 
-        - name: Check headers for ansible_managed, fingerprint
-          include_tasks: tasks/check_header.yml
-          loop:
-            - "{{ timesync_chrony_conf_path }}"
-            - "{{ timesync_chrony_sysconfig_path }}"
-          loop_control:
-            loop_var: __file
-          vars:
-            __fingerprint: "system_role:timesync"
-
       always:
         - name: Cleanup after tests
           include_tasks: tasks/cleanup.yml
diff --git a/tests/tests_default_wrapper.yml b/tests/tests_default_wrapper.yml
index 16d28179..a09ac29b 100644
--- a/tests/tests_default_wrapper.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_default_wrapper.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 ---
 - name: Create static inventory from hostvars
   tags:
-    - 'tests::slow'
+    - tests::slow
+    - tests::booted
   hosts: all
   tasks:
+    - name: Save connection method
+      set_fact:
+        __ansible_connection: "{{ ansible_connection }}"
+
     - name: Create temporary file
       tempfile:
         state: file
@@ -20,12 +25,14 @@
 
 - name: Run tests_default.yml normally
   tags:
-    - 'tests::slow'
+    - tests::slow
+    - tests::booted
   import_playbook: tests_default.yml
 
 - name: Run tests_default.yml in check_mode
   tags:
-    - 'tests::slow'
+    - tests::slow
+    - tests::booted
   hosts: all
   tasks:
     - name: Run ansible-playbook with tests_default.yml in check mode
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp.yml b/tests/tests_ntp.yml
index eebf08d8..62b21cc9 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp.yml
@@ -33,15 +33,18 @@
       block:
         - name: Flush handlers
           meta: flush_handlers
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
 
         - name: Wait for services to start
           wait_for:
             timeout: 2
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
 
         - name: Get list of currently used time sources
           shell: chronyc -n sources || ntpq -pn
           register: sources
           changed_when: false
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
 
         - name: Check time sources
           assert:
@@ -49,17 +52,20 @@
               - "'172.16.123.1' in sources.stdout"
               - "'172.16.123.2' in sources.stdout"
               - "'172.16.123.3' in sources.stdout"
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
 
         - name: Fetch chrony.conf file
           slurp:
             src: /etc/chrony.conf
-          when: "'LastRx' in sources.stdout"
+          when: not __timesync_is_booted or "LastRx" in sources.stdout
           register: chrony_conf_encoded
 
         - name: Fetch ntp.conf file
           slurp:
             src: /etc/ntp.conf
-          when: "'LastRx' not in sources.stdout"
+          when:
+            - __timesync_is_booted
+            - "'LastRx' not in sources.stdout"
           register: ntp_conf_encoded
 
         - name: Decode chrony.conf file
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider1.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider1.yml
index 1c6bb08b..2d74bf2e 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider1.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider1.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
   post_tasks:
     - name: Verify provider is working
       tags: tests::verify
+      when: __timesync_is_booted
       block:
         - name: Wait for services to start
           wait_for:
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider2.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider2.yml
index 36b3f01d..cd174c9b 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider2.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider2.yml
@@ -36,12 +36,13 @@
         - name: Enable chronyd
           service:
             name: chronyd
-            state: started
+            state: "{{ 'started' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
             enabled: true
 
   post_tasks:
     - name: Verify chronyd running
       tags: tests::verify
+      when: __timesync_is_booted
       block:
         - name: Wait for services to start
           wait_for:
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider3.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider3.yml
index 3a5f6e77..71bd3676 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider3.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider3.yml
@@ -36,12 +36,13 @@
         - name: Enable ntpd
           service:
             name: ntpd
-            state: started
+            state: "{{ 'started' if __timesync_is_booted else omit }}"
             enabled: true
 
   post_tasks:
     - name: Verify ntpd is running
       tags: tests::verify
+      when: __timesync_is_booted
       block:
         - name: Wait for services to start
           wait_for:
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider4.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider4.yml
index b2ebd452..a0df3e03 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider4.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider4.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 
         - name: Verify chronyd is running
           tags: tests::verify
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
           block:
             - name: Wait for services to start
               wait_for:
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider5.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider5.yml
index 378913f6..37ce7b90 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider5.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider5.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 
         - name: Verify ntpd service
           tags: tests::verify
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
           block:
             - name: Wait for services to start
               wait_for:
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider6.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider6.yml
index 2cf0eaee..7a54679b 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider6.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider6.yml
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
 
     - name: Verify provider set correctly
       tags: tests::verify
+      when: __timesync_is_booted
       block:
         - name: Flush handlers
           meta: flush_handlers
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_ptp.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_ptp.yml
index d98ce1b6..d86ce342 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_ptp.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_ptp.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 
         - name: Flush handlers
           meta: flush_handlers
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
 
         - name: Ensure ethtool is installed
           package:
@@ -49,7 +50,9 @@
           changed_when: false
 
         - name: Run test
-          when: "'ware-transmit' in ethtool.stdout"
+          when:
+            - __timesync_is_booted
+            - "'ware-transmit' in ethtool.stdout"
           block:
             - name: Wait for services to start
               wait_for:
diff --git a/tests/tests_ptp_multi.yml b/tests/tests_ptp_multi.yml
index ad7b6cdc..b334531a 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ptp_multi.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ptp_multi.yml
@@ -22,12 +22,13 @@
     - name: Run test
       tags: tests::verify
       block:
-        - name: Flush handlers
-          meta: flush_handlers
-
         - name: Common test setup tasks
           include_tasks: tasks/setup.yml
 
+        - name: Flush handlers
+          meta: flush_handlers
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
+
         - name: Ensure ethtool is installed
           package:
             name: ethtool
@@ -42,7 +43,9 @@
           changed_when: false
 
         - name: Run test
-          when: "'ware-transmit' in ethtool.stdout"
+          when:
+            - __timesync_is_booted
+            - "'ware-transmit' in ethtool.stdout"
           block:
             - name: Wait for services to start
               wait_for:
diff --git a/tests/tests_ptp_single.yml b/tests/tests_ptp_single.yml
index 8f3e61d2..42b39a54 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ptp_single.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ptp_single.yml
@@ -13,12 +13,13 @@
     - name: Run test
       tags: tests::verify
       block:
-        - name: Flush handlers
-          meta: flush_handlers
-
         - name: Common test setup tasks
           include_tasks: tasks/setup.yml
 
+        - name: Flush handlers
+          meta: flush_handlers
+          when: __timesync_is_booted
+
         - name: Ensure ethtool is installed
           package:
             name: ethtool
@@ -33,7 +34,9 @@
           changed_when: false
 
         - name: Run test
-          when: "'ware-transmit' in ethtool.stdout"
+          when:
+            - __timesync_is_booted
+            - "'ware-transmit' in ethtool.stdout"
           block:
             - name: Wait for services to start
               wait_for: