diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index b70c7d6..d92116d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -14,15 +14,15 @@ 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/v1.5.5.tar.gz
-          echo "ea648aa2a149c732aa07cd44218cdf63e881cfdfbb7e5cad3ecc6963661e31e2  v1.5.5.tar.gz" | sha256sum -c -
-          tar -xzf v1.5.5.tar.gz
-          cd genext2fs-1.5.5
+          wget https://github.com/cartesi/genext2fs/releases/download/v1.5.6/xgenext2fs_amd64.deb
+          echo "996e4e68a638b5dc5967d3410f92ecb8d2f41e32218bbe0f8b4c4474d7eebc59  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-1.5.5 v1.5.5.tar.gz
+          rm -rf genext2fs-1.5.6 v1.5.6.tar.gz
 
       - name: Login to GHCR
         uses: docker/login-action@v3
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8e1a493..5e9607b 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
 
 ## [0.15.0] - 2024-04-19
 ### Added
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3e66862..7ba5ada 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
 
 $(TOOLS_LIBCMT) libcmt:
 	@docker buildx build --load \
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