diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/ksparser.py b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/ksparser.py
index 913e328..3eb669d 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/ksparser.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/ksparser.py
@@ -229,6 +229,23 @@
                                 err = "%s:%d: SquashFS does not support LABEL" \
                                        % (confpath, lineno)
                                 raise KickStartError(err)
+                        if parsed.fstype == 'msdos' or parsed.fstype == 'vfat':
+                            if parsed.fsuuid:
+                                if parsed.fsuuid.upper().startswith('0X'):
+                                    if len(parsed.fsuuid) > 10:
+                                        err = "%s:%d: fsuuid %s given in wks kickstart file " \
+                                              "exceeds the length limit for %s filesystem. " \
+                                              "It should be in the form of a 32 bit hexadecimal" \
+                                              "number (for example, 0xABCD1234)." \
+                                              % (confpath, lineno, parsed.fsuuid, parsed.fstype)
+                                        raise KickStartError(err)
+                                elif len(parsed.fsuuid) > 8:
+                                    err = "%s:%d: fsuuid %s given in wks kickstart file " \
+                                          "exceeds the length limit for %s filesystem. " \
+                                          "It should be in the form of a 32 bit hexadecimal" \
+                                          "number (for example, 0xABCD1234)." \
+                                          % (confpath, lineno, parsed.fsuuid, parsed.fstype)
+                                    raise KickStartError(err)
                         if parsed.use_label and not parsed.label:
                             err = "%s:%d: Must set the label with --label" \
                                   % (confpath, lineno)
diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/misc.py b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/misc.py
index 4b08d64..75b219c 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/misc.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/misc.py
@@ -138,9 +138,12 @@
     if pseudo:
         cmd_and_args = pseudo + cmd_and_args
 
-    native_paths = "%s/sbin:%s/usr/sbin:%s/usr/bin:%s/bin" % \
+    hosttools_dir = get_bitbake_var("HOSTTOOLS_DIR")
+
+    native_paths = "%s/sbin:%s/usr/sbin:%s/usr/bin:%s/bin:%s" % \
                    (native_sysroot, native_sysroot,
-                    native_sysroot, native_sysroot)
+                    native_sysroot, native_sysroot,
+                    hosttools_dir)
 
     native_cmd_and_args = "export PATH=%s:$PATH;%s" % \
                    (native_paths, cmd_and_args)
diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/partition.py b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/partition.py
index ebe250b..e574f40 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/partition.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/partition.py
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@
         self.uuid = args.uuid
         self.fsuuid = args.fsuuid
         self.type = args.type
+        self.updated_fstab_path = None
+        self.has_fstab = False
+        self.update_fstab_in_rootfs = False
 
         self.lineno = lineno
         self.source_file = ""
@@ -118,11 +121,15 @@
         return self.fixed_size if self.fixed_size else self.size
 
     def prepare(self, creator, cr_workdir, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
-                bootimg_dir, kernel_dir, native_sysroot):
+                bootimg_dir, kernel_dir, native_sysroot, updated_fstab_path):
         """
         Prepare content for individual partitions, depending on
         partition command parameters.
         """
+        self.updated_fstab_path = updated_fstab_path
+        if self.updated_fstab_path and not (self.fstype.startswith("ext") or self.fstype == "msdos"):
+            self.update_fstab_in_rootfs = True
+
         if not self.source:
             if not self.size and not self.fixed_size:
                 raise WicError("The %s partition has a size of zero. Please "
@@ -207,11 +214,21 @@
 
         p_prefix = os.environ.get("PSEUDO_PREFIX", "%s/usr" % native_sysroot)
         if (pseudo_dir):
+            # Canonicalize the ignore paths. This corresponds to
+            # calling oe.path.canonicalize(), which is used in bitbake.conf.
+            ignore_paths = [rootfs] + (get_bitbake_var("PSEUDO_IGNORE_PATHS") or "").split(",")
+            canonical_paths = []
+            for path in ignore_paths:
+                if "$" not in path:
+                    trailing_slash = path.endswith("/") and "/" or ""
+                    canonical_paths.append(os.path.realpath(path) + trailing_slash)
+            ignore_paths = ",".join(canonical_paths)
+
             pseudo = "export PSEUDO_PREFIX=%s;" % p_prefix
             pseudo += "export PSEUDO_LOCALSTATEDIR=%s;" % pseudo_dir
             pseudo += "export PSEUDO_PASSWD=%s;" % rootfs_dir
             pseudo += "export PSEUDO_NOSYMLINKEXP=1;"
-            pseudo += "export PSEUDO_IGNORE_PATHS=%s;" % (rootfs + "," + (get_bitbake_var("PSEUDO_IGNORE_PATHS") or ""))
+            pseudo += "export PSEUDO_IGNORE_PATHS=%s;" % ignore_paths
             pseudo += "%s " % get_bitbake_var("FAKEROOTCMD")
         else:
             pseudo = None
@@ -237,7 +254,7 @@
 
         prefix = "ext" if self.fstype.startswith("ext") else self.fstype
         method = getattr(self, "prepare_rootfs_" + prefix)
-        method(rootfs, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir, native_sysroot, pseudo)
+        method(rootfs, cr_workdir, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir, native_sysroot, pseudo)
         self.source_file = rootfs
 
         # get the rootfs size in the right units for kickstart (kB)
@@ -245,7 +262,7 @@
         out = exec_cmd(du_cmd)
         self.size = int(out.split()[0])
 
-    def prepare_rootfs_ext(self, rootfs, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
+    def prepare_rootfs_ext(self, rootfs, cr_workdir, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
                            native_sysroot, pseudo):
         """
         Prepare content for an ext2/3/4 rootfs partition.
@@ -269,10 +286,19 @@
             (self.fstype, extraopts, rootfs, label_str, self.fsuuid, rootfs_dir)
         exec_native_cmd(mkfs_cmd, native_sysroot, pseudo=pseudo)
 
+        if self.updated_fstab_path and self.has_fstab:
+            debugfs_script_path = os.path.join(cr_workdir, "debugfs_script")
+            with open(debugfs_script_path, "w") as f:
+                f.write("cd etc\n")
+                f.write("rm fstab\n")
+                f.write("write %s fstab\n" % (self.updated_fstab_path))
+            debugfs_cmd = "debugfs -w -f %s %s" % (debugfs_script_path, rootfs)
+            exec_native_cmd(debugfs_cmd, native_sysroot)
+
         mkfs_cmd = "fsck.%s -pvfD %s" % (self.fstype, rootfs)
         exec_native_cmd(mkfs_cmd, native_sysroot, pseudo=pseudo)
 
-    def prepare_rootfs_btrfs(self, rootfs, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
+    def prepare_rootfs_btrfs(self, rootfs, cr_workdir, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
                              native_sysroot, pseudo):
         """
         Prepare content for a btrfs rootfs partition.
@@ -295,7 +321,7 @@
              self.mkfs_extraopts, self.fsuuid, rootfs)
         exec_native_cmd(mkfs_cmd, native_sysroot, pseudo=pseudo)
 
-    def prepare_rootfs_msdos(self, rootfs, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
+    def prepare_rootfs_msdos(self, rootfs, cr_workdir, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
                              native_sysroot, pseudo):
         """
         Prepare content for a msdos/vfat rootfs partition.
@@ -324,12 +350,16 @@
         mcopy_cmd = "mcopy -i %s -s %s/* ::/" % (rootfs, rootfs_dir)
         exec_native_cmd(mcopy_cmd, native_sysroot)
 
+        if self.updated_fstab_path and self.has_fstab:
+            mcopy_cmd = "mcopy -i %s %s ::/etc/fstab" % (rootfs, self.updated_fstab_path)
+            exec_native_cmd(mcopy_cmd, native_sysroot)
+
         chmod_cmd = "chmod 644 %s" % rootfs
         exec_cmd(chmod_cmd)
 
     prepare_rootfs_vfat = prepare_rootfs_msdos
 
-    def prepare_rootfs_squashfs(self, rootfs, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
+    def prepare_rootfs_squashfs(self, rootfs, cr_workdir, oe_builddir, rootfs_dir,
                                 native_sysroot, pseudo):
         """
         Prepare content for a squashfs rootfs partition.
diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/imager/direct.py b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/imager/direct.py
index 55db826..ea709e8 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/imager/direct.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/imager/direct.py
@@ -54,15 +54,16 @@
         self.native_sysroot = native_sysroot
         self.oe_builddir = oe_builddir
 
+        self.debug = options.debug
         self.outdir = options.outdir
         self.compressor = options.compressor
         self.bmap = options.bmap
         self.no_fstab_update = options.no_fstab_update
-        self.original_fstab = None
+        self.updated_fstab_path = None
 
         self.name = "%s-%s" % (os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(wks_file))[0],
                                strftime("%Y%m%d%H%M"))
-        self.workdir = tempfile.mkdtemp(dir=self.outdir, prefix='tmp.wic.')
+        self.workdir = self.setup_workdir(options.workdir)
         self._image = None
         self.ptable_format = self.ks.bootloader.ptable
         self.parts = self.ks.partitions
@@ -78,6 +79,16 @@
         self._image = PartitionedImage(image_path, self.ptable_format,
                                        self.parts, self.native_sysroot)
 
+    def setup_workdir(self, workdir):
+        if workdir:
+            if os.path.exists(workdir):
+                raise WicError("Internal workdir '%s' specified in wic arguments already exists!" % (workdir))
+
+            os.makedirs(workdir)
+            return workdir
+        else:
+            return tempfile.mkdtemp(dir=self.outdir, prefix='tmp.wic.')
+
     def do_create(self):
         """
         Plugin entry point.
@@ -90,11 +101,8 @@
         finally:
             self.cleanup()
 
-    def _write_fstab(self, image_rootfs):
-        """overriden to generate fstab (temporarily) in rootfs. This is called
-        from _create, make sure it doesn't get called from
-        BaseImage.create()
-        """
+    def update_fstab(self, image_rootfs):
+        """Assume partition order same as in wks"""
         if not image_rootfs:
             return
 
@@ -104,18 +112,9 @@
 
         with open(fstab_path) as fstab:
             fstab_lines = fstab.readlines()
-            self.original_fstab = fstab_lines.copy()
 
-        if self._update_fstab(fstab_lines, self.parts):
-            with open(fstab_path, "w") as fstab:
-                fstab.writelines(fstab_lines)
-        else:
-            self.original_fstab = None
-
-    def _update_fstab(self, fstab_lines, parts):
-        """Assume partition order same as in wks"""
         updated = False
-        for part in parts:
+        for part in self.parts:
             if not part.realnum or not part.mountpoint \
                or part.mountpoint == "/":
                 continue
@@ -144,7 +143,10 @@
             fstab_lines.append(line)
             updated = True
 
-        return updated
+        if updated:
+            self.updated_fstab_path = os.path.join(self.workdir, "fstab")
+            with open(self.updated_fstab_path, "w") as f:
+                f.writelines(fstab_lines)
 
     def _full_path(self, path, name, extention):
         """ Construct full file path to a file we generate. """
@@ -160,7 +162,7 @@
         a partitioned image.
         """
         if not self.no_fstab_update:
-            self._write_fstab(self.rootfs_dir.get("ROOTFS_DIR"))
+            self.update_fstab(self.rootfs_dir.get("ROOTFS_DIR"))
 
         for part in self.parts:
             # get rootfs size from bitbake variable if it's not set in .ks file
@@ -273,14 +275,9 @@
             if os.path.isfile(path):
                 shutil.move(path, os.path.join(self.outdir, fname))
 
-        #Restore original fstab
-        if self.original_fstab:
-            fstab_path = self.rootfs_dir.get("ROOTFS_DIR") + "/etc/fstab"
-            with open(fstab_path, "w") as fstab:
-                fstab.writelines(self.original_fstab)
-
-        # remove work directory
-        shutil.rmtree(self.workdir, ignore_errors=True)
+        # remove work directory when it is not in debugging mode
+        if not self.debug:
+            shutil.rmtree(self.workdir, ignore_errors=True)
 
 # Overhead of the MBR partitioning scheme (just one sector)
 MBR_OVERHEAD = 1
@@ -343,6 +340,13 @@
                     part.fsuuid = '0x' + str(uuid.uuid4())[:8].upper()
                 else:
                     part.fsuuid = str(uuid.uuid4())
+            else:
+                #make sure the fsuuid for vfat/msdos align with format 0xYYYYYYYY
+                if part.fstype == 'vfat' or part.fstype == 'msdos':
+                    if part.fsuuid.upper().startswith("0X"):
+                        part.fsuuid = '0x' + part.fsuuid.upper()[2:].rjust(8,"0")
+                    else:
+                        part.fsuuid = '0x' + part.fsuuid.upper().rjust(8,"0")
 
     def prepare(self, imager):
         """Prepare an image. Call prepare method of all image partitions."""
@@ -351,7 +355,8 @@
             # sizes before we can add them and do the layout.
             part.prepare(imager, imager.workdir, imager.oe_builddir,
                          imager.rootfs_dir, imager.bootimg_dir,
-                         imager.kernel_dir, imager.native_sysroot)
+                         imager.kernel_dir, imager.native_sysroot,
+                         imager.updated_fstab_path)
 
             # Converting kB to sectors for parted
             part.size_sec = part.disk_size * 1024 // self.sector_size
diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/source/empty.py b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/source/empty.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..041617d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/source/empty.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+#
+
+# The empty wic plugin is used to create unformatted empty partitions for wic
+# images.
+# To use it you must pass "empty" as argument for the "--source" parameter in
+# the wks file. For example:
+# part foo --source empty --ondisk sda --size="1024" --align 1024
+
+import logging
+
+from wic.pluginbase import SourcePlugin
+
+logger = logging.getLogger('wic')
+
+class EmptyPartitionPlugin(SourcePlugin):
+    """
+    Populate unformatted empty partition.
+    """
+
+    name = 'empty'
+
+    @classmethod
+    def do_prepare_partition(cls, part, source_params, cr, cr_workdir,
+                             oe_builddir, bootimg_dir, kernel_dir,
+                             rootfs_dir, native_sysroot):
+        """
+        Called to do the actual content population for a partition i.e. it
+        'prepares' the partition to be incorporated into the image.
+        """
+        return
diff --git a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/source/rootfs.py b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/source/rootfs.py
index f1db83f..96d940a 100644
--- a/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/source/rootfs.py
+++ b/poky/scripts/lib/wic/plugins/source/rootfs.py
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@
                                "it is not a valid path, exiting" % part.rootfs_dir)
 
         part.rootfs_dir = cls.__get_rootfs_dir(rootfs_dir)
+        part.has_fstab = os.path.exists(os.path.join(part.rootfs_dir, "etc/fstab"))
         pseudo_dir = os.path.join(part.rootfs_dir, "../pseudo")
         if not os.path.lexists(pseudo_dir):
             logger.warn("%s folder does not exist. "
@@ -103,9 +104,9 @@
         new_rootfs = None
         new_pseudo = None
         # Handle excluded paths.
-        if part.exclude_path or part.include_path or part.change_directory:
-            # We need a new rootfs directory we can delete files from. Copy to
-            # workdir.
+        if part.exclude_path or part.include_path or part.change_directory or part.update_fstab_in_rootfs:
+            # We need a new rootfs directory we can safely modify without
+            # interfering with other tasks. Copy to workdir.
             new_rootfs = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(cr_workdir, "rootfs%d" % part.lineno))
 
             if os.path.lexists(new_rootfs):
@@ -199,17 +200,33 @@
                 if not os.path.lexists(full_path):
                     continue
 
+                if new_pseudo:
+                    pseudo = cls.__get_pseudo(native_sysroot, new_rootfs, new_pseudo)
+                else:
+                    pseudo = None
                 if path.endswith(os.sep):
                     # Delete content only.
                     for entry in os.listdir(full_path):
                         full_entry = os.path.join(full_path, entry)
-                        if os.path.isdir(full_entry) and not os.path.islink(full_entry):
-                            shutil.rmtree(full_entry)
-                        else:
-                            os.remove(full_entry)
+                        rm_cmd = "rm -rf %s" % (full_entry)
+                        exec_native_cmd(rm_cmd, native_sysroot, pseudo)
                 else:
                     # Delete whole directory.
-                    shutil.rmtree(full_path)
+                    rm_cmd = "rm -rf %s" % (full_path)
+                    exec_native_cmd(rm_cmd, native_sysroot, pseudo)
+
+            # Update part.has_fstab here as fstab may have been added or
+            # removed by the above modifications.
+            part.has_fstab = os.path.exists(os.path.join(new_rootfs, "etc/fstab"))
+            if part.update_fstab_in_rootfs and part.has_fstab:
+                fstab_path = os.path.join(new_rootfs, "etc/fstab")
+                # Assume that fstab should always be owned by root with fixed permissions
+                install_cmd = "install -m 0644 %s %s" % (part.updated_fstab_path, fstab_path)
+                if new_pseudo:
+                    pseudo = cls.__get_pseudo(native_sysroot, new_rootfs, new_pseudo)
+                else:
+                    pseudo = None
+                exec_native_cmd(install_cmd, native_sysroot, pseudo)
 
         part.prepare_rootfs(cr_workdir, oe_builddir,
                             new_rootfs or part.rootfs_dir, native_sysroot,