diff --git a/dnf/cli/cli.py b/dnf/cli/cli.py
index c14f836398..83b1900260 100644
--- a/dnf/cli/cli.py
+++ b/dnf/cli/cli.py
@@ -214,13 +214,12 @@ def do_transaction(self, display=()):
             elif 'test' in self.conf.tsflags:
                 logger.info(_("{prog} will only download packages, install gpg keys, and check the "
                               "transaction.").format(prog=dnf.util.MAIN_PROG_UPPER))
-            if dnf.util.is_container():
-                _container_msg = _("""
-*** This system is managed with ostree.  Changes to the system
-*** made with dnf will be lost with the next ostree-based update.
-*** If you do not want to lose these changes, use 'rpm-ostree'.
+            if dnf.util._is_bootc_host():
+                _bootc_host_msg = _("""
+*** Error: system is configured to be read-only; for more
+*** information run `bootc status` or `ostree admin status`.
 """)
-                logger.info(_container_msg)
+                logger.info(_bootc_host_msg)
                 raise CliError(_("Operation aborted."))
 
             if self._promptWanted():
diff --git a/dnf/util.py b/dnf/util.py
index 1b465bda59..0327321caf 100644
--- a/dnf/util.py
+++ b/dnf/util.py
@@ -33,13 +33,11 @@
 import functools
 import hawkey
 import itertools
-import json
 import locale
 import logging
 import os
 import pwd
 import shutil
-import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
 import time
@@ -643,30 +641,16 @@ def _is_file_pattern_present(specs):
     return False
 
 
-def is_container():
+def _is_bootc_host():
     """Returns true is the system is managed as an immutable container,
        false otherwise.  If msg is True, a warning message is displayed
        for the user.
     """
+    ostree_booted = '/run/ostree-booted'
+    usr = '/usr/'
+    # Check if usr is writtable and we are in a running ostree system.
+    # We want this code to return true only when the system is in locked state. If someone ran
+    # bootc overlay or ostree admin unlock we would want normal DNF path to be ran as it will be
+    # temporary changes (until reboot).
+    return os.path.isfile(ostree_booted) and not os.access(usr, os.W_OK)
 
-    bootc = '/usr/bin/bootc'
-    ostree = '/sysroot/ostree'
-
-    if os.path.isfile(bootc) and os.access(bootc, os.X_OK):
-        p = subprocess.Popen([bootc, "status", "--json"], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-        (out, err) = p.communicate()
-
-        if p.returncode == 0:
-            # check the output of 'bootc status'
-            j = json.loads(out)
-
-            # XXX: the API from bootc status is evolving
-            status = j.get("status", "")
-            kind = j.get("kind", "")
-
-            if kind.lower() == "bootchost" and bool(status.get("isContainer", None)):
-                return True
-    elif os.path.isdir(ostree):
-        return True
-
-    return False