diff --git a/elements/dkms/README.md b/elements/dkms/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..912c8ed35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/dkms/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+This is the dkms (Dynamic Kernel Module System) element.
+
+Some distributions such as Fedora and Ubuntu include DKMS in their packaging.
+In these distros, it is reasonable to include dkms.  Other RHEL based
+derivatives do not include DKMS, so those distros should not use the DKMS
+element.
diff --git a/elements/base/post-install.d/99-dkms b/elements/dkms/post-install.d/99-dkms
similarity index 100%
rename from elements/base/post-install.d/99-dkms
rename to elements/dkms/post-install.d/99-dkms
diff --git a/elements/fedora/element-deps b/elements/fedora/element-deps
index 7fa0e5910..386e17306 100644
--- a/elements/fedora/element-deps
+++ b/elements/fedora/element-deps
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 dib-run-parts
 dracut-network
 cache-url
+dkms
diff --git a/elements/ubuntu/element-deps b/elements/ubuntu/element-deps
index d646207eb..a1f21aaf6 100644
--- a/elements/ubuntu/element-deps
+++ b/elements/ubuntu/element-deps
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 dpkg
 dib-run-parts
 cache-url
+dkms