diff --git a/internal/api/types.go b/internal/api/types.go
index 8d6c1aa..8a043be 100644
--- a/internal/api/types.go
+++ b/internal/api/types.go
@@ -259,6 +259,7 @@ type ImageRegisterParams struct {
 	KernelPath   string `json:"kernel_path,omitempty"`
 	InitrdPath   string `json:"initrd_path,omitempty"`
 	ModulesDir   string `json:"modules_dir,omitempty"`
+	KernelRef    string `json:"kernel_ref,omitempty"`
 	Docker       bool   `json:"docker,omitempty"`
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/cli/banger.go b/internal/cli/banger.go
index 7f93a2d..e37a5d5 100644
--- a/internal/cli/banger.go
+++ b/internal/cli/banger.go
@@ -1474,8 +1474,11 @@ func newImageRegisterCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "register",
 		Short: "Register or update an unmanaged image",
-		Args:  noArgsUsage("usage: banger image register --name <name> --rootfs <path> [--work-seed <path>] --kernel <path> [--initrd <path>] [--modules <dir>]"),
+		Args:  noArgsUsage("usage: banger image register --name <name> --rootfs <path> [--work-seed <path>] (--kernel <path> [--initrd <path>] [--modules <dir>] | --kernel-ref <name>)"),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			if strings.TrimSpace(params.KernelRef) != "" && (params.KernelPath != "" || params.InitrdPath != "" || params.ModulesDir != "") {
+				return errors.New("--kernel-ref is mutually exclusive with --kernel/--initrd/--modules")
+			}
 			if err := absolutizeImageRegisterPaths(&params); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -1499,6 +1502,7 @@ func newImageRegisterCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&params.KernelPath, "kernel", "", "kernel path")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&params.InitrdPath, "initrd", "", "initrd path")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&params.ModulesDir, "modules", "", "modules dir")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&params.KernelRef, "kernel-ref", "", "name of a cataloged kernel (see 'banger kernel list')")
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&params.Docker, "docker", false, "mark image as docker-prepared")
 	return cmd
 }
diff --git a/internal/daemon/images.go b/internal/daemon/images.go
index d724b76..bfc8448 100644
--- a/internal/daemon/images.go
+++ b/internal/daemon/images.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"banger/internal/api"
 	"banger/internal/daemon/imagemgr"
 	"banger/internal/imagepreset"
+	"banger/internal/kernelcat"
 	"banger/internal/model"
 	"banger/internal/system"
 )
@@ -179,11 +180,29 @@ func (d *Daemon) RegisterImage(ctx context.Context, params api.ImageRegisterPara
 		}
 	}
 	kernelPath := strings.TrimSpace(params.KernelPath)
-	if kernelPath == "" {
-		return model.Image{}, fmt.Errorf("kernel path is required")
-	}
 	initrdPath := strings.TrimSpace(params.InitrdPath)
 	modulesDir := strings.TrimSpace(params.ModulesDir)
+	kernelRef := strings.TrimSpace(params.KernelRef)
+
+	if kernelRef != "" {
+		if kernelPath != "" || initrdPath != "" || modulesDir != "" {
+			return model.Image{}, fmt.Errorf("--kernel-ref is mutually exclusive with --kernel/--initrd/--modules")
+		}
+		entry, err := kernelcat.ReadLocal(d.layout.KernelsDir, kernelRef)
+		if err != nil {
+			if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+				return model.Image{}, fmt.Errorf("kernel %q not found in catalog; run 'banger kernel list' to see available entries", kernelRef)
+			}
+			return model.Image{}, fmt.Errorf("resolve kernel %q: %w", kernelRef, err)
+		}
+		kernelPath = entry.KernelPath
+		initrdPath = entry.InitrdPath
+		modulesDir = entry.ModulesDir
+	}
+
+	if kernelPath == "" {
+		return model.Image{}, fmt.Errorf("kernel path is required (pass --kernel <path> or --kernel-ref <name>)")
+	}
 
 	if err := imagemgr.ValidateRegisterPaths(rootfsPath, workSeedPath, kernelPath, initrdPath, modulesDir); err != nil {
 		return model.Image{}, err
diff --git a/internal/daemon/kernels_test.go b/internal/daemon/kernels_test.go
index 2ab9f03..369afef 100644
--- a/internal/daemon/kernels_test.go
+++ b/internal/daemon/kernels_test.go
@@ -97,3 +97,73 @@ func TestKernelDeleteRejectsInvalidName(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("KernelDelete should reject traversal")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestRegisterImageResolvesKernelRef(t *testing.T) {
+	kernelsDir := t.TempDir()
+	seedKernelEntry(t, kernelsDir, "void-6.12")
+
+	rootfs := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "rootfs.ext4")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(rootfs, []byte("rootfs"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write rootfs: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	d := &Daemon{
+		layout: paths.Layout{KernelsDir: kernelsDir},
+		store:  openDaemonStore(t),
+	}
+
+	image, err := d.RegisterImage(context.Background(), api.ImageRegisterParams{
+		Name:       "testbox",
+		RootfsPath: rootfs,
+		KernelRef:  "void-6.12",
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterImage: %v", err)
+	}
+	want := filepath.Join(kernelsDir, "void-6.12", "vmlinux")
+	if image.KernelPath != want {
+		t.Fatalf("image.KernelPath = %q, want %q", image.KernelPath, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegisterImageRejectsKernelRefAndPath(t *testing.T) {
+	kernelsDir := t.TempDir()
+	seedKernelEntry(t, kernelsDir, "void-6.12")
+	rootfs := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "rootfs.ext4")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(rootfs, []byte("rootfs"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	d := &Daemon{
+		layout: paths.Layout{KernelsDir: kernelsDir},
+		store:  openDaemonStore(t),
+	}
+	_, err := d.RegisterImage(context.Background(), api.ImageRegisterParams{
+		Name:       "testbox",
+		RootfsPath: rootfs,
+		KernelRef:  "void-6.12",
+		KernelPath: "/some/other/vmlinux",
+	})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "mutually exclusive") {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterImage kernel-ref+kernel: err=%v, want mutually-exclusive error", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRegisterImageMissingKernelRef(t *testing.T) {
+	rootfs := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "rootfs.ext4")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(rootfs, []byte("rootfs"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	d := &Daemon{
+		layout: paths.Layout{KernelsDir: t.TempDir()},
+		store:  openDaemonStore(t),
+	}
+	_, err := d.RegisterImage(context.Background(), api.ImageRegisterParams{
+		Name:       "testbox",
+		RootfsPath: rootfs,
+		KernelRef:  "never-imported",
+	})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not found in catalog") {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterImage missing kernel-ref: err=%v", err)
+	}
+}