diff --git a/gnu/system.scm b/gnu/system.scm
index e06b8103a5..6918d5bcb8 100644
--- a/gnu/system.scm
+++ b/gnu/system.scm
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ alias ll='ls -l'
                             (password "")
                             (uid 0) (gid 0)
                             (comment "System administrator")
-                            (home-directory "/"))
+                            (home-directory "/root"))
                           (append (operating-system-users os)
                                   (append-map service-user-accounts
                                               services))))
diff --git a/gnu/system/vm.scm b/gnu/system/vm.scm
index 1bdd2c6e92..dea7d0599b 100644
--- a/gnu/system/vm.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/vm.scm
@@ -485,6 +485,7 @@ basic contents of the root file system of OS."
               (directory "/tmp")
               (directory "/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root" 0 0)
 
+              (directory "/root" 0 0)             ; an exception
               ,@(append-map user-directories
                             (operating-system-users os))))))