diff --git a/gnu/system.scm b/gnu/system.scm
index 812d7c5d56..a365fb57e4 100644
--- a/gnu/system.scm
+++ b/gnu/system.scm
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
   (bootloader operating-system-bootloader)        ; <grub-configuration>
 
   (initrd operating-system-initrd                 ; (list fs) -> M derivation
-          (default qemu-initrd))
+          (default base-initrd))
 
   (host-name operating-system-host-name)          ; string
 
diff --git a/gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm b/gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm
index 3edbf5046b..99df8cd185 100644
--- a/gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/linux-initrd.scm
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
   #:use-module (ice-9 regex)
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-1)
   #:export (expression->initrd
-            qemu-initrd))
+            base-initrd))
 
 
 ;;; Commentary:
@@ -201,16 +201,15 @@ initrd code."
     (($ <file-system> device title mount-point type flags options _ check?)
      (list device title mount-point type flags options check?))))
 
-(define* (qemu-initrd file-systems
+(define* (base-initrd file-systems
                       #:key
                       qemu-networking?
                       virtio?
                       volatile-root?
                       guile-modules-in-chroot?)
-  "Return a monadic derivation that builds an initrd for use in a QEMU guest
-where the store is shared with the host.  FILE-SYSTEMS is a list of
-file-systems to be mounted by the initrd, possibly in addition to the root
-file system specified on the kernel command line via '--root'.
+  "Return a monadic derivation that builds a generic initrd.  FILE-SYSTEMS is
+a list of file-systems to be mounted by the initrd, possibly in addition to
+the root file system specified on the kernel command line via '--root'.
 
 When QEMU-NETWORKING? is true, set up networking with the standard QEMU
 parameters.  When VIRTIO? is true, load additional modules so the initrd can
@@ -282,7 +281,7 @@ exception and backtrace!)."
                     #:qemu-guest-networking? #$qemu-networking?
                     #:guile-modules-in-chroot? '#$guile-modules-in-chroot?
                     #:volatile-root? '#$volatile-root?))
-   #:name "qemu-initrd"
+   #:name "base-initrd"
    #:modules '((guix build utils)
                (guix build linux-initrd))
    #:to-copy helper-packages
diff --git a/gnu/system/vm.scm b/gnu/system/vm.scm
index 4796566612..50f7e6f692 100644
--- a/gnu/system/vm.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/vm.scm
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ made available under the /xchg CIFS share."
        (coreutils -> (car (assoc-ref %final-inputs "coreutils")))
        (initrd       (if initrd                   ; use the default initrd?
                          (return initrd)
-                         (qemu-initrd %linux-vm-file-systems
+                         (base-initrd %linux-vm-file-systems
                                       #:virtio? #t
                                       #:qemu-networking? #t
                                       #:guile-modules-in-chroot? #t))))
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ to USB sticks meant to be read-only."
   (let ((os (operating-system (inherit os)
               ;; Since this is meant to be used on real hardware, don't set up
               ;; QEMU networking.
-              (initrd (cut qemu-initrd <>
+              (initrd (cut base-initrd <>
                            #:volatile-root? volatile?))
 
               ;; Force our own root file system.
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ of the GNU system as described by OS."
   "Return an operating system based on OS suitable for use in a virtualized
 environment with the store shared with the host."
   (operating-system (inherit os)
-    (initrd (cut qemu-initrd <>
+    (initrd (cut base-initrd <>
                  #:volatile-root? #t
                  #:virtio? #t
                  #:qemu-networking? #t))