diff --git a/etc/nodes.conf b/etc/nodes.conf
index 22ab4335..62d5b496 100644
--- a/etc/nodes.conf
+++ b/etc/nodes.conf
@@ -26,4 +26,6 @@ nodeprofiles:
     init: /sbin/init
     root: initramfs
     ipxe template: default
+    ipmi:
+      template: ipmitool.tmpl
 nodes: {}
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/node/sensors/root_test.go b/internal/app/wwctl/node/sensors/root_test.go
index d290563c..bd2b74bd 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/node/sensors/root_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/node/sensors/root_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func Test_Sensors(t *testing.T) {
 nodeprofiles:
   default:
     ipmi:
+      template: ipmitool.tmpl
       username: admin
       password: admin
 nodes:
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/power/cycle/root_test.go b/internal/app/wwctl/power/cycle/root_test.go
index 1aec07fa..997a048f 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/power/cycle/root_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/power/cycle/root_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func Test_PowerCycle(t *testing.T) {
 nodeprofiles:
   default:
     ipmi:
+      template: ipmitool.tmpl
       username: admin
       password: admin
 nodes:
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/power/off/root_test.go b/internal/app/wwctl/power/off/root_test.go
index 18d5939a..a0c6952f 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/power/off/root_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/power/off/root_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func Test_Power_Status(t *testing.T) {
 nodeprofiles:
   default:
     ipmi:
+      template: ipmitool.tmpl
       username: admin
       password: admin
 nodes:
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/power/on/root_test.go b/internal/app/wwctl/power/on/root_test.go
index b42920de..26fab1ff 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/power/on/root_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/power/on/root_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func Test_Power_Status(t *testing.T) {
 nodeprofiles:
   default:
     ipmi:
+      template: ipmitool.tmpl
       username: admin
       password: admin
 nodes:
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/power/reset/root_test.go b/internal/app/wwctl/power/reset/root_test.go
index 31c5420b..9f8c8552 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/power/reset/root_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/power/reset/root_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func Test_Power_Status(t *testing.T) {
 nodeprofiles:
   default:
     ipmi:
+      template: ipmitool.tmpl
       username: admin
       password: admin
 nodes:
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/power/soft/root_test.go b/internal/app/wwctl/power/soft/root_test.go
index 7f214f3f..7eb0ff1a 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/power/soft/root_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/power/soft/root_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func Test_Power_Status(t *testing.T) {
 nodeprofiles:
   default:
     ipmi:
+      template: ipmitool.tmpl
       username: admin
       password: admin
 nodes:
diff --git a/internal/app/wwctl/power/status/root_test.go b/internal/app/wwctl/power/status/root_test.go
index d7c55b8b..e6bbbe98 100644
--- a/internal/app/wwctl/power/status/root_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/wwctl/power/status/root_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func Test_Power_Status(t *testing.T) {
 nodeprofiles:
   default:
     ipmi:
+      template: ipmitool.tmpl
       username: admin
       password: admin
 nodes:
diff --git a/internal/pkg/power/ipmitool.go b/internal/pkg/power/ipmitool.go
index fd6efe73..268175cc 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/power/ipmitool.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/power/ipmitool.go
@@ -32,15 +32,16 @@ func (ipmi *IPMI) Result() (string, error) {
 }
 
 func (ipmi *IPMI) getStr() (cmdStr string, err error) {
-	conf := warewulfconf.Get()
 	if ipmi.Template == "" {
-		ipmi.Template = path.Join(conf.Warewulf.DataStore, "warewulf/bmc/ipmitool.tmpl")
-	} else if !strings.HasPrefix(ipmi.Template, "/") {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("no ipmi/bmc template specified")
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(ipmi.Template, "/") {
+		conf := warewulfconf.Get()
 		ipmi.Template = path.Join(conf.Warewulf.DataStore, "warewulf/bmc", ipmi.Template)
 	}
 	fbuf, err := os.ReadFile(ipmi.Template)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("couldn't find the template which defines the ipmi/redfish command: %s", err)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("couldn't find the template which defines the ipmi/bmc command: %s", err)
 	}
 	cmdTmpl, err := template.New("bmc command").Parse(string(fbuf))
 	if err != nil {