diff --git a/templates/aws/template-variables.rc b/templates/aws/template-variables.rc
index e8cef3b5..34bc801b 100644
--- a/templates/aws/template-variables.rc
+++ b/templates/aws/template-variables.rc
@@ -12,5 +12,6 @@ export AWS_PUBLIC_IP=                               # e.g. "true"
 export AWS_CONTROL_PLANE_MACHINE_FLAVOR=            # e.g. "t3.large"
 export AWS_NODE_MACHINE_FLAVOR=                     # e.g. "t3.large"
 export AWS_SSH_KEY_NAME=                            # e.g. "default"
+export AWS_AMI_ID=                                  # e.g. "ami-0ad50e72a79228704"
 
 export AWS_CCM_IMAGE=registry.k8s.io/provider-aws/cloud-controller-manager:v1.28.3