Ly49G2 (G2+) NK cells mediate murine (M)CMV resistance in MHC Dk‐expressing mice. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) studies revealed that G2+ NK cell‐mediated MCMV resistance requires Dk in both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells. As a Ly49G2 ligand, Dk in both cell lineages may contribute to lysis of virus‐infected cells. Alternatively, cellular differences in self‐MHC Dk may have affected NK‐cell education, and consequently NK cell‐mediated viral clearance. We investigated the Dk‐licensing effect on BM‐derived NK cells in BMT recipients by analyzing cytokines, cytotoxicity and MCMV resistance. In BMT recipients with lineage‐restricted Dk, G2+ NK‐cell reactivity and cytotoxicity was diminished in comparison to BMT recipients with self‐MHC in all cells. Reduced G2+ NK‐mediated MCMV resistance in BMT recipients with lineage‐restricted self‐MHC indicates that licensing of G2+ NK cells is related to NK‐cell reactivity and viral control. Titrating donor BM with self‐MHC‐bearing hematopoietic cells, as well as adoptive transfer of mature G2+ NK cells into BMT recipients with self‐MHC in non‐hematopoietic cells only, enhanced NK‐cell licensing and rescued MCMV resistance. This disparate self‐MHC NK‐cell education model would suggest that inadequately licensed NK cells corresponded to inefficient viral sensing and clearance.