diff --git a/pkg/machinedriver/driver.go b/pkg/machinedriver/driver.go
index c427b88c..0211d594 100644
--- a/pkg/machinedriver/driver.go
+++ b/pkg/machinedriver/driver.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 
+	"github.com/containers/common/pkg/strongunits"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v5/pkg/machine"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v5/pkg/machine/define"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v5/pkg/machine/env"
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ func (d *Driver) initOpts() *define.InitOptions {
 	initOpts.Name = d.MachineName
 
 	initOpts.CPUS = uint64(d.VMDriver.CPU)
-	initOpts.DiskSize = d.VMDriver.DiskCapacity
+	initOpts.DiskSize = uint64(strongunits.ToGiB(strongunits.B(d.VMDriver.DiskCapacity)))
 	initOpts.Memory = uint64(d.VMDriver.Memory)
 	initOpts.TimeZone = ""
 	initOpts.ReExec = false