diff --git a/syft/format/common/spdxhelpers/to_format_model.go b/syft/format/common/spdxhelpers/to_format_model.go
index c4c378f0cbb3..b9232d9e8082 100644
--- a/syft/format/common/spdxhelpers/to_format_model.go
+++ b/syft/format/common/spdxhelpers/to_format_model.go
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ func toOSPackage(s sbom.SBOM) *spdx.Package {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return &spdx.Package{
-		PackageName:           distro.Name,
-		PackageDescription:    distro.PrettyName,
+		PackageName:           distro.ID,
+		PackageDescription:    distro.String(),
 		PackageSPDXIdentifier: spdx.ElementID(helpers.SanitizeElementID(fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s", prefixOS, strings.ToLower(distro.ID)))),
 		PackageVersion:        distro.VersionID,
 		PrimaryPackagePurpose: spdxPrimaryPurposeOS,