diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 2e9607b..838340d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -13,15 +13,15 @@ jobs:
       # Building from source cause the provided debian package is for Debian Bookworm
       - name: Download, build and install xgenext2fs
         run: |
-          wget https://github.com/cartesi/genext2fs/archive/refs/tags/v1.5.3.tar.gz
-          echo "af62ec69916ffc15fa5921b19630c9935e69a0d8b1bf529d7f26cefdc23a5120  v1.5.3.tar.gz" | sha256sum -c -
-          tar -xzf v1.5.3.tar.gz
-          cd genext2fs-1.5.3
+          wget https://github.com/cartesi/genext2fs/archive/refs/tags/v1.5.6.tar.gz
+          echo "34bfc26a037def23b85b676912462a3d126a87ef15c66c212b3500650da44f9e  v1.5.6.tar.gz" | sha256sum -c -
+          tar -xzf v1.5.6.tar.gz
+          cd genext2fs-1.5.6
           ./autogen.sh
           ./configure
           make
           sudo make install
-          rm -rf genext2fs-1.5.3 v1.5.3.tar.gz
+          rm -rf genext2fs-1.5.6 v1.5.6.tar.gz
 
       - name: Login to GHCR
         uses: docker/login-action@v2
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5281775..1aa25c5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
+### Changed
+- Updated xgenext2fs to v1.5.6
 
 ## [0.14.1] - 2023-12-18
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7b1ea40..b600fac 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -58,9 +58,8 @@ $(TOOLS_ROOTFS) fs: $(TOOLS_DEB)
 	  --output type=tar,dest=rootfs.tar \
 	  --file fs/Dockerfile \
 	  . && \
-	bsdtar -cf rootfs.gnutar --format=gnutar @rootfs.tar && \
-	xgenext2fs -fzB 4096 -b 25600 -i 4096 -a rootfs.gnutar -L rootfs $(TOOLS_ROOTFS) && \
-	rm -f rootfs.gnutar rootfs.tar
+	xgenext2fs -fzB 4096 -b 25600 -i 4096 -a rootfs.tar -L rootfs $(TOOLS_ROOTFS) && \
+	rm -f rootfs.tar
 
 env:
 	@echo TOOLS_DEB=$(TOOLS_DEB)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f94d996..2e28e02 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@ Users looking to create cartesi-machine applications can use the provided Debian
 
 - Docker >= 18.x
 - GNU Make >= 3.81
-- bsdtar >= 3.7.2
-- xgenext2fs >= 1.5.3
+- xgenext2fs >= 1.5.6
 
 ### Docker buildx setup