diff --git a/src/systemctl/systemd-sysv-install.SKELETON b/src/systemctl/systemd-sysv-install.SKELETON
index 2c494f169b1..8c16cf99913 100755
--- a/src/systemctl/systemd-sysv-install.SKELETON
+++ b/src/systemctl/systemd-sysv-install.SKELETON
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ usage() {
     exit 1
 }
 
-ROOT=
+unset ROOT
 
 # parse options
 eval set -- "$(getopt -o r: --long root: -- "$@")"