diff --git a/nix/tests/lanzaboote.nix b/nix/tests/lanzaboote.nix
index 94b5afb3..aa340875 100644
--- a/nix/tests/lanzaboote.nix
+++ b/nix/tests/lanzaboote.nix
@@ -239,6 +239,18 @@ in
     '';
   };
 
+  # We test if we can install Lanzaboote without Bootspec support.
+  synthesis = mkSecureBootTest {
+    name = "lanzaboote-synthesis";
+    machine = { lib, ... }: {
+      boot.bootspec.enable = lib.mkForce false;
+    };
+    testScript = ''
+      machine.start()
+      assert "Secure Boot: enabled (user)" in machine.succeed("bootctl status")
+    '';
+  };
+
   systemd-boot-loader-config = mkSecureBootTest {
     name = "lanzaboote-systemd-boot-loader-config";
     machine = {
diff --git a/rust/tool/src/generation.rs b/rust/tool/src/generation.rs
index db0b9d5a..47ef0bc2 100644
--- a/rust/tool/src/generation.rs
+++ b/rust/tool/src/generation.rs
@@ -42,10 +42,15 @@ pub struct Generation {
 impl Generation {
     pub fn from_link(link: &GenerationLink) -> Result<Self> {
         let bootspec_path = link.path.join("boot.json");
-        let boot_json: BootJson = serde_json::from_slice(
-            &fs::read(bootspec_path).context("Failed to read bootspec file")?,
-        )
-        .context("Failed to parse bootspec json")?;
+        let boot_json: BootJson = fs::read(bootspec_path)
+            .context("Failed to read bootspec file")
+            .and_then(|raw| serde_json::from_slice(&raw).context("Failed to read bootspec JSON"))
+            // TODO: this should be much easier, add a From<GenerationVX> for BootspecGeneration
+            // this should enable us to do `into()` on the Result
+            // anyhow compatibility of bootspec would be nice too.
+            .or_else(|_err| BootJson::synthesize_latest(&link.path)
+                    .map_err(|err| anyhow!(err))
+                    .context("Failed to read a bootspec (missing bootspec?) and failed to synthesize a valid replacement bootspec."))?;
 
         // TODO: replace me when https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/bootspec/pull/109 lands.
         let bootspec: BootSpec = match boot_json.generation {