diff --git a/defaults/initrd.d/00-rootdev.sh b/defaults/initrd.d/00-rootdev.sh
index 911368f..9cfed09 100755
--- a/defaults/initrd.d/00-rootdev.sh
+++ b/defaults/initrd.d/00-rootdev.sh
@@ -154,6 +154,12 @@ real_root_init() {
         REAL_ROOT="${FAKE_ROOT}"
     fi
 
+    if [ -z "${REAL_ROOTFLAGS}" ]; then
+        REAL_ROOTFLAGS="${FAKE_ROOTFLAGS}"
+    fi
+}
+
+real_init_init() {
     local default_init="/sbin/init"
     if [ -z "${REAL_INIT}" ] && [ -z "${FAKE_INIT}" ]; then
         # if none of REAL_INIT and FAKE_INIT are set, default
@@ -168,9 +174,6 @@ real_root_init() {
             REAL_INIT="${FAKE_INIT}"
         fi
     fi
-    if [ -z "${REAL_ROOTFLAGS}" ]; then
-        REAL_ROOTFLAGS="${FAKE_ROOTFLAGS}"
-    fi
 }
 
 # Read /etc/initramfs.mounts from ${NEW_ROOT} and mount the
diff --git a/defaults/linuxrc b/defaults/linuxrc
index 48ae691..c7b4a45 100755
--- a/defaults/linuxrc
+++ b/defaults/linuxrc
@@ -258,6 +258,8 @@ done
 
 quiet_kmsg
 
+real_init_init
+
 is_livecd || {
     real_root_init && zfs_real_root_init;
 }