diff --git a/libguestfs.mkinitrd.setup.sh b/libguestfs.mkinitrd.setup.sh
index bf5bfbc..a34065a 100644
--- a/libguestfs.mkinitrd.setup.sh
+++ b/libguestfs.mkinitrd.setup.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 #%stage: block
 #
 
+# many guestfish commands need a mount point
+# in guestfsd the mount point defaults to /sysroot
+mkdir -vp $tmp_mnt/sysroot
+
 for f in /etc/magic /usr/share/misc/magic*
 do
 	if test -e $f