diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index aee0016a397..56ddde2f278 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -613,11 +613,23 @@ jobs:
       - name: WSL info
         if: matrix.provider == 'wsl'
         shell: pwsh
+        env:
+          WSL_UTF8: '1'
         run: |
           wsl --update
           wsl --version
           wsl --status
 
+      - name: Uninstall WSL
+        if: matrix.provider == 'hyperv'
+        env:
+          WSL_UTF8: '1'
+        continue-on-error: true
+        shell: pwsh
+        run: |
+          wsl --uninstall
+          wsl --status
+
       - name: Configure container policy
         shell: pwsh
         run: |
diff --git a/pkg/machine/wsl/stubber.go b/pkg/machine/wsl/stubber.go
index 606c6fcfbef..b86adf877a7 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/wsl/stubber.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/wsl/stubber.go
@@ -91,6 +91,9 @@ func (w WSLStubber) PrepareIgnition(_ *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, _ *ignition.Igni
 }
 
 func (w WSLStubber) Exists(name string) (bool, error) {
+	if !wutil.IsWSLInstalled() {
+		return false, nil
+	}
 	return isWSLExist(env.WithPodmanPrefix(name))
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/machine/wsl/wutil/wutil.go b/pkg/machine/wsl/wutil/wutil.go
index 69ec64ccccd..d39a8284c85 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/wsl/wutil/wutil.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/wsl/wutil/wutil.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package wutil
 
 import (
 	"bufio"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
@@ -52,11 +53,7 @@ func SilentExecCmd(args ...string) *exec.Cmd {
 
 func parseWSLStatus() wslStatus {
 	onceStatus.Do(func() {
-		status = wslStatus{
-			installed:         false,
-			vmpFeatureEnabled: false,
-			wslFeatureEnabled: false,
-		}
+		status = wslStatus{}
 		cmd := SilentExecCmd("--status")
 		out, err := cmd.StdoutPipe()
 		cmd.Stderr = nil
@@ -66,14 +63,17 @@ func parseWSLStatus() wslStatus {
 		if err = cmd.Start(); err != nil {
 			return
 		}
-
 		status = matchOutputLine(out)
-
-		if err := cmd.Wait(); err != nil {
-			return
+		err = cmd.Wait()
+		var exitErr *exec.ExitError
+		if errors.As(err, &exitErr) {
+			// If `wsl --status` returns an exit error
+			// we assume that WSL isn't installed and
+			// override whatever was returned by
+			// matchOutputLine()
+			status = wslStatus{}
 		}
 	})
-
 	return status
 }