diff --git a/src/systemctl/systemd-sysv-install.SKELETON b/src/systemctl/systemd-sysv-install.SKELETON
index a53a3e6221..2c494f169b 100755
--- a/src/systemctl/systemd-sysv-install.SKELETON
+++ b/src/systemctl/systemd-sysv-install.SKELETON
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ usage() {
     exit 1
 }
 
+ROOT=
+
 # parse options
 eval set -- "$(getopt -o r: --long root: -- "$@")"
 while true; do