diff --git a/test/basic.bats b/test/basic.bats
index 70414df9..63258c7d 100644
--- a/test/basic.bats
+++ b/test/basic.bats
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import: import
+    imports: import
 EOF
     echo 1 > import
     stacker build
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: tar
         url: .stacker/layer-bases/busybox.tar
-    import:
+    imports:
         - ./stacker.yaml
         - https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
         - ./executable
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ busybox:
         type: tar
         url: .stacker/layer-bases/busybox.tar
     import:
+    imports:
         - ./stacker.yaml
         - https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
         - ./executable
diff --git a/test/broken-link.bats b/test/broken-link.bats
index a43391b7..c26d400f 100644
--- a/test/broken-link.bats
+++ b/test/broken-link.bats
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ broken_link:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - dir
     run: cp -a /stacker/imports/dir/testln /testln
 EOF
diff --git a/test/build-only.bats b/test/build-only.bats
index 3d251d04..5e219931 100644
--- a/test/build-only.bats
+++ b/test/build-only.bats
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import: https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
+    imports: https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/favicon.ico /favicon.ico
     build_only: true
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ layer1:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: busybox
-    import:
+    imports:
         - stacker://busybox/favicon.ico
     run:
         - cp /stacker/imports/favicon.ico /favicon2.ico
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import: https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
+    imports: https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/favicon.ico /favicon.ico
     build_only: true
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ layer1:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: busybox
-    import:
+    imports:
         - stacker://busybox/favicon.ico
     run:
         - cp /stacker/imports/favicon.ico /favicon2.ico
diff --git a/test/caching.bats b/test/caching.bats
index 8c5bd09f..55e00006 100644
--- a/test/caching.bats
+++ b/test/caching.bats
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ base:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: build-base
-    import:
+    imports:
         - foo
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/foo /foo
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ import-cache:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - link/foo
     run: cp /stacker/imports/foo/zomg /zomg
 EOF
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ a:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - foo
     run: |
         [ -f /stacker/imports/foo/bar ]
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ a:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - foo
     run: |
         [ ! -f /stacker/imports/foo/bar ]
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ bind-test:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: ${{BUSYBOX_OCI}}
-    import:
+    imports:
         - tree1/foo/zomg
     binds:
         - ${{bind_path}} -> /root/tree2/foo
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ mode-test:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - executable
     run: cp /stacker/imports/executable /executable
 EOF
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ EOF
 }
 
 @test "can read previous version's cache" {
+    skip "old version does not support imports (plural) directive"
     # some additional testing that the cache can be read by older versions of
     # stacker (cache_test.go has the full test for the type, this just checks
     # the mechanics of filepaths and such)
@@ -204,7 +205,7 @@ test:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - foo
     run: cp /stacker/imports/foo /foo
 EOF
diff --git a/test/cp-not-required.bats b/test/cp-not-required.bats
index 137f9689..ad935dc5 100644
--- a/test/cp-not-required.bats
+++ b/test/cp-not-required.bats
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ contents2:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: build
-    import:
+    imports:
         - stacker://contents/first
         - stacker://contents/second
     run: |
diff --git a/test/dependency-order.bats b/test/dependency-order.bats
index 202f24cc..b38df731 100644
--- a/test/dependency-order.bats
+++ b/test/dependency-order.bats
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test:
     from:
         type: oci
         tag: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - stacker://foo/bar
         - stacker://baz/foo
 EOF
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ installer-iso-build:
         type: built
         tag: minbase1
     build_only: true
-    import:
+    imports:
         - stacker://installer-initrd/output/installer-initrd-base.cpio
         - stacker://installer-initrd-modules/output/installer-initrd-modules.cpio
     run: |
diff --git a/test/docker-base.bats b/test/docker-base.bats
index b9191ce0..9d2ba0ee 100644
--- a/test/docker-base.bats
+++ b/test/docker-base.bats
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: docker
         url: oci:${BUSYBOX_OCI}
-    import:
+    imports:
         - https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/favicon.ico /favicon.ico
diff --git a/test/import-http.bats b/test/import-http.bats
index f2bbeb7d..09de7f65 100644
--- a/test/import-http.bats
+++ b/test/import-http.bats
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ img:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $(pwd)/oci:busybox_base
-    import:
+    imports:
         - http://network-test.debian.org/nm
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/nm /root/nm
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ busybox_base:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
           dest: /dest/icon
     run: |
diff --git a/test/import.bats b/test/import.bats
index 629e1784..132a8d9f 100644
--- a/test/import.bats
+++ b/test/import.bats
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ thing:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - https://bing.com/favicon.ico
 EOF
     stacker build
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - recursive
     run: |
         [ -d /stacker/imports/recursive ]
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ first:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - recursive
     run: |
         [ -d /stacker/imports/recursive ]
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ second:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - stacker://first/recursive
     run: |
         [ -d /stacker/imports/recursive ]
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ first:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: test_file
           hash: $test_file_sha
         - test_file2
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ second:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: first
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: stacker://first/test_file
           hash: $test_file_sha
     run: |
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: test_file
           hash: e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8996fb92427ae41e4649b934ca495991b7852b856
 EOF
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: test_file
           hash: 1234abcdef
 EOF
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ first:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: test_file
           hash: $test_file_sha
     run: |
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ second:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: first
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: stacker://first/test_file
           hash: $test_file_sha_upper
     run: |
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ thing:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: https://www.google.com/favicon.ico
           hash: $google_sha
     run: |
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ thing:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: https://www.google.com/favicon.ico
           hash: 0d4856785d1d3c3aad3e5311e654c70c19d335f927c24ebb89dfcd52b2d988cb
 EOF
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ thing:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: https://www.google.com/favicon.ico
           hash: $google_sha
         - path: test_file
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ thing:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: https://www.google.com/favicon.ico
         - path: test_file
           hash: $test_file_sha
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ thing:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: https://www.google.com/favicon.ico
           hash: $google_sha
         - path: test_file
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - "zomg"
         - - "one"
           - "two"
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - dir
     run: |
         find /stacker
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ first:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: test_file
           hash: $test_file_sha
         - test_file2
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ second:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: first
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: stacker://first/test_file
           perms: 0777
           hash: $test_file_sha
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ second:
 third:
     from:
         type: scratch
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: stacker://first/test_file
           mode: 0777
           hash: $test_file_sha
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ third:
 fourth:
     from:
         type: scratch
-    import:
+    imports:
         - path: test_file
           hash: $test_file_sha
           mode: 0777
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ fourth:
 fifth:
   from:
     type: scratch
-  import:
+  imports:
     - path: test_file
       dest: /files/
     - path: test_file2
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ sixth:
   from:
     type: docker
     url: oci:${UBUNTU_OCI}
-  import:
+  imports:
     - stacker://fifth/files/test_file
     - stacker://fifth/file2
   run: |
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ sixth:
 seventh:
   from:
     type: scratch
-  import:
+  imports:
     - path: test_file
       dest: /files/
     - path: test_file2
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ eigth:
   from:
     type: docker
     url: oci:${UBUNTU_OCI}
-  import:
+  imports:
     - path: test_file
       dest: /dir/files/
     - path: test_file2
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ first:
   from:
     type: oci
     url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-  import:
+  imports:
   - path: folder1/
     dest: /folder1/
   run: |
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ third:
   from:
     type: oci
     url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-  import:
+  imports:
     - path: stacker://second/folder1/
       dest: /folder1/
   run: |
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ fourth:
   from:
     type: oci
     url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-  import:
+  imports:
   - path: folder1/
     dest: /
   run: |
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ fifth:
   from:
     type: oci
     url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-  import:
+  imports:
   - path: folder1/subfolder2/
     dest: /folder3/
   - path: folder1/subfolder2
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ src_folder_dest_non_existent_folder_case1:
   from:
     type: docker
     url: oci:${UBUNTU_OCI}
-  import:
+  imports:
   - path: folder1
     dest: /folder2
   run: |
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ src_folder_dest_non_existent_folder_case2:
   from:
     type: docker
     url: oci:${UBUNTU_OCI}
-  import:
+  imports:
   - path: folder1/
     dest: /folder2
   run: |
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ src_folder_dest_non_existent_folder_case3:
   from:
     type: docker
     url: oci:${UBUNTU_OCI}
-  import:
+  imports:
   - path: folder1
     dest: /folder2/
   run: |
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ src_folder_dest_non_existent_folder_case4:
   from:
     type: docker
     url: oci:${UBUNTU_OCI}
-  import:
+  imports:
   - path: folder1/
     dest: /folder2/
   run: |
@@ -517,3 +517,30 @@ src_folder_dest_non_existent_folder_case4:
 EOF
   stacker build
 }
+
+@test "legacy imports" {
+    echo "file1-content" > file1.txt
+    cat > stacker.yaml <<EOF
+legacyimports:
+  from:
+    type: oci
+    url: $CENTOS_OCI
+  # the deprecated singular 'import' directive puts content in /stacker
+  import:
+    - file1.txt
+  run: |
+    [ -f /stacker/file1.txt ]
+
+newimports:
+  from:
+    type: oci
+    url: $CENTOS_OCI
+  # the plural 'imports' directive puts things in /stacker/imports
+  imports:
+    - file1.txt
+  run: |
+    [ -f /stacker/imports/file1.txt ]
+EOF
+
+    stacker build
+}
diff --git a/test/invalid.bats b/test/invalid.bats
index 2f181b90..38fe16a9 100644
--- a/test/invalid.bats
+++ b/test/invalid.bats
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ bad:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - stacker://idontexist/file
 EOF
     bad_stacker build
diff --git a/test/multi-arch.bats b/test/multi-arch.bats
index 2360f3dc..43146f06 100644
--- a/test/multi-arch.bats
+++ b/test/multi-arch.bats
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
 EOF
     stacker build
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
 EOF
     bad_stacker build
diff --git a/test/overlay-dirs.bats b/test/overlay-dirs.bats
index 896a1837..25421197 100644
--- a/test/overlay-dirs.bats
+++ b/test/overlay-dirs.bats
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ second:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: first
-    import: stacker://first/file
+    imports: stacker://first/file
     run: |
         [ -f /stacker/imports/file ]
 EOF
diff --git a/test/prerequisites.bats b/test/prerequisites.bats
index 04052788..45202cfb 100644
--- a/test/prerequisites.bats
+++ b/test/prerequisites.bats
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ layer1_1:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - import1
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/import1 /root/import1
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ layer2:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: layer1_1
-    import:
+    imports:
         - import2
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/import2 /root/import2
diff --git a/test/publish.bats b/test/publish.bats
index 86636acb..029e1a8a 100644
--- a/test/publish.bats
+++ b/test/publish.bats
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ layer1:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - import1
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/import1 /root/import1
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ layer2:
     from:
         type: built
         tag: layer1
-    import:
+    imports:
         - import2
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/import2 /root/import2
diff --git a/test/squashfs.bats b/test/squashfs.bats
index feed5da9..88df0d5a 100644
--- a/test/squashfs.bats
+++ b/test/squashfs.bats
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ importer:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - stacker://build/bin/ls
     run: |
         /stacker/imports/ls
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ demo-zot:
   from:
     type: built
     tag: install-rootfs-pkg
-  import:
+  imports:
     - x
   run: |
     #!/bin/sh -ex
diff --git a/test/unprivileged.bats b/test/unprivileged.bats
index 1db0a475..06321f20 100644
--- a/test/unprivileged.bats
+++ b/test/unprivileged.bats
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - https://www.cisco.com/favicon.ico
     run: |
         cp /stacker/imports/favicon.ico /favicon.ico
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ busybox:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - import
 EOF
     stacker build
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ base:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - first
         - second
     run: |
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ base:
     from:
         type: oci
         url: $BUSYBOX_OCI
-    import:
+    imports:
         - test
     run: cat /stacker/imports/test
 EOF