diff --git a/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/api.go b/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/api.go
index 7f4d9229..d1f6e2dd 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/api.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/api.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func Handler(auth *config.Authentication, allowedNets []net.IPNet) *web.Service
 			r.Method(http.MethodGet, "/{id}/fields", nethttp.NewHandler(getNodeFields()))
 			r.Method(http.MethodPost, "/overlays/build", nethttp.NewHandler(buildAllOverlays()))
 			r.Method(http.MethodPost, "/{id}/overlays/build", nethttp.NewHandler(buildOverlays()))
-			r.Method(http.MethodGet, "/{id}/overlays", nethttp.NewHandler(getNodeOverlays()))
+			r.Method(http.MethodGet, "/{id}/overlays", nethttp.NewHandler(getNodeOverlayInfo()))
 		})
 	})
 
diff --git a/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/node.go b/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/node.go
index faa4588c..f596e349 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/node.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/node.go
@@ -42,23 +42,20 @@ func getNodes() usecase.Interactor {
 	return u
 }
 
-func getNodeOverlays() usecase.Interactor {
+func getNodeOverlayInfo() usecase.Interactor {
 	type getOverlaysInput struct {
 		ID string `path:"id" description:"ID of node to retrieve overlays for"`
 	}
-	type buildEntry struct {
-		MTime string `json:"mtime,omitempty" yaml:"mtime,omitempty"`
-	}
-	type overlayEntry struct {
-		Overlays []string    `json:"overlays,omitempty" yaml:"overlays,omitempty"`
-		Build    *buildEntry `json:"build,omitempty" yaml:"build,omitempty"`
+	type overlayInfo struct {
+		Overlays []string   `json:"overlays,omitempty" yaml:"overlays,omitempty"`
+		MTime    *time.Time `json:"mtime,omitempty" yaml:"mtime,omitempty"`
 	}
 	type getOverlaysOutput struct {
-		SystemOverlay  *overlayEntry `json:"system overlay,omitempty" yaml:"system overlay,omitempty"`
-		RuntimeOverlay *overlayEntry `json:"runtime overlay,omitempty" yaml:"runtime overlay,omitempty"`
+		SystemOverlay  *overlayInfo `json:"system overlay,omitempty" yaml:"system overlay,omitempty"`
+		RuntimeOverlay *overlayInfo `json:"runtime overlay,omitempty" yaml:"runtime overlay,omitempty"`
 	}
 	u := usecase.NewInteractor(func(ctx context.Context, input *getOverlaysInput, output *getOverlaysOutput) error {
-		wwlog.Debug("api.getNodeOverlays()")
+		wwlog.Debug("api.getNodeOverlayInfo()")
 		if registry, err := node.New(); err != nil {
 			return err
 		} else {
@@ -66,23 +63,23 @@ func getNodeOverlays() usecase.Interactor {
 				return status.Wrap(err, status.NotFound)
 			} else {
 				out := getOverlaysOutput{
-					SystemOverlay: &overlayEntry{
+					SystemOverlay: &overlayInfo{
 						Overlays: node_.SystemOverlay,
-						Build:    &buildEntry{},
 					},
-					RuntimeOverlay: &overlayEntry{
+					RuntimeOverlay: &overlayInfo{
 						Overlays: node_.RuntimeOverlay,
-						Build:    &buildEntry{},
 					},
 				}
 				sysImagePath := overlay.OverlayImage(input.ID, "system", node_.SystemOverlay)
 				if sysImageStat, err := os.Stat(sysImagePath); err == nil {
-					out.SystemOverlay.Build.MTime = sysImageStat.ModTime().Format(time.RFC3339)
+					mtime := sysImageStat.ModTime()
+					out.SystemOverlay.MTime = &mtime
 				}
 
 				runtimeImagePath := overlay.OverlayImage(input.ID, "runtime", node_.RuntimeOverlay)
 				if runtimeImageStat, err := os.Stat(runtimeImagePath); err == nil {
-					out.RuntimeOverlay.Build.MTime = runtimeImageStat.ModTime().Format(time.RFC3339)
+					mtime := runtimeImageStat.ModTime()
+					out.RuntimeOverlay.MTime = &mtime
 				}
 				*output = out
 				return nil
diff --git a/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/node_test.go b/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/node_test.go
index 92c72045..8c2daa9f 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/node_test.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/warewulfd/api/node_test.go
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@ package api
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"io"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
+	"github.com/kinbiko/jsonassert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/testenv"
 	"github.com/warewulf/warewulf/internal/pkg/warewulfd"
@@ -16,6 +19,8 @@ import (
 func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 	warewulfd.SetNoDaemon()
 	env := testenv.New(t)
+	env.MkdirAll("/var/lib/warewulf/overlays/so1")
+	env.MkdirAll("/var/lib/warewulf/overlays/ro1")
 	defer env.RemoveAll()
 
 	allowedNets := []net.IPNet{
@@ -32,6 +37,8 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 
 		testNode := `{
   "node":{
+    "system overlay": ["so1"],
+	"runtime overlay": ["ro1"],
     "kernel": {
       "version": "v1.0.0",
       "args": ["kernel-args"]
@@ -48,7 +55,7 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
-		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"kernel": {"version": "v1.0.0", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"system overlay": ["so1"], "runtime overlay": ["ro1"], "kernel": {"version": "v1.0.0", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
 	})
 
 	t.Run("read all nodes", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -64,7 +71,7 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
-		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"node1": {}, "test": {"kernel": {"version": "v1.0.0", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}}`, string(body))
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"node1": {}, "test": {"system overlay": ["so1"], "runtime overlay": ["ro1"], "kernel": {"version": "v1.0.0", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}}`, string(body))
 	})
 
 	t.Run("get one specific node", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -80,7 +87,31 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
-		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"kernel": {"version": "v1.0.0", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"system overlay": ["so1"], "runtime overlay": ["ro1"], "kernel": {"version": "v1.0.0", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("get unbuilt overlay info for the node", func(t *testing.T) {
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, srv.URL+"/api/nodes/test/overlays", nil)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// send request
+		resp, err := http.DefaultTransport.RoundTrip(req)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// validate the response
+		body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
+
+		ja := jsonassert.New(t)
+		ja.Assertf(string(body), `{
+			"system overlay": {
+				"overlays": ["so1"]
+			},
+			"runtime overlay": {
+				"overlays": ["ro1"]
+			}
+		}`)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("update the node", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -101,7 +132,7 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
-		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"kernel": {"version": "v1.0.1-newversion", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"system overlay": ["so1"], "runtime overlay": ["ro1"], "kernel": {"version": "v1.0.1-newversion", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
 	})
 
 	t.Run("get one specific node (again)", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -115,7 +146,7 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
-		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"kernel": {"version": "v1.0.1-newversion", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"system overlay": ["so1"], "runtime overlay": ["ro1"], "kernel": {"version": "v1.0.1-newversion", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
 	})
 
 	t.Run("get one specific (raw) node", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -129,7 +160,7 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
-		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"kernel": {"version": "v1.0.1-newversion", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"system overlay": ["so1"], "runtime overlay": ["ro1"], "kernel": {"version": "v1.0.1-newversion", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
 	})
 
 	t.Run("test build all nodes overlays", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -160,6 +191,43 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.JSONEq(t, `"test"`, string(body))
 	})
 
+	t.Run("get built overlay info for the node", func(t *testing.T) {
+		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, srv.URL+"/api/nodes/test/overlays", nil)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// send request
+		resp, err := http.DefaultTransport.RoundTrip(req)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// validate the response
+		body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
+
+		ja := jsonassert.New(t)
+		ja.Assertf(string(body), `{
+			"system overlay": {
+				"overlays": ["so1"],
+				"mtime": "<<PRESENCE>>"
+			},
+			"runtime overlay": {
+				"overlays": ["ro1"],
+				"mtime": "<<PRESENCE>>"
+			}
+		}`)
+
+		data := map[string]any{}
+		assert.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal(body, &data))
+		{
+			_, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, data["system overlay"].(map[string]any)["mtime"].(string))
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+		}
+		{
+			_, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, data["runtime overlay"].(map[string]any)["mtime"].(string))
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+		}
+	})
+
 	t.Run("test delete nodes", func(t *testing.T) {
 		req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodDelete, srv.URL+"/api/nodes/test", nil)
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
@@ -171,6 +239,6 @@ func TestNodeAPI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.NoError(t, resp.Body.Close())
 
-		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"kernel": {"version": "v1.0.1-newversion", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
+		assert.JSONEq(t, `{"system overlay": ["so1"], "runtime overlay": ["ro1"], "kernel": {"version": "v1.0.1-newversion", "args": ["kernel-args"]}}`, string(body))
 	})
 }