diff --git a/zlibs/imaging b/zlibs/imaging
index 7d070ec..9e38753 100644
--- a/zlibs/imaging
+++ b/zlibs/imaging
@@ -253,3 +253,15 @@ image_qcow2_as_strapdir() {
 	echo 1 | sudo tee ${strapdir}/.keep >/dev/null
 	popd
 }
+
+tar_strapdir() {
+	fn tar_strapdir
+	req=(strapdir)
+	ckreq || return 1
+
+	notice "creating a tarbomb of the rootfs..."
+	silly
+	pushd "$strapdir"
+	tar czf "$R/dist/${image_name}.tar.gz" . || zerr
+	popd
+}
diff --git a/zlibs/rsync b/zlibs/rsync
index 4be6a10..28578cb 100644
--- a/zlibs/rsync
+++ b/zlibs/rsync
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@ rsync_to_raw_image() {
 
 	mkdir -p $R/dist
 	pushd $strapdir
-		notice "creating a tarbomb of the rootfs..."
-		sudo tar czf "$R/dist/${image_name}.tar.gz" . || zerr
+		tar_strapdir || zerr
 
 		notice "rsyncing strapdir to raw image..."
 		sudo rsync -HPavz -q ./* $workdir/mnt || {