diff --git a/gnu/build/file-systems.scm b/gnu/build/file-systems.scm
index d83a4f6015..f8b8697b46 100644
--- a/gnu/build/file-systems.scm
+++ b/gnu/build/file-systems.scm
@@ -295,9 +295,12 @@ the following:
     ;; The realm of canonicalization.
     (if (eq? title 'any)
         (if (string? spec)
-            (if (string-prefix? "/" spec)
-                'device
-                'label)
+            ;; The "--root=SPEC" kernel command-line option always provides a
+            ;; string, but the string can represent a device, a UUID, or a
+            ;; label.  So check for all three.
+            (cond ((string-prefix? "/" spec) 'device)
+                  ((string->uuid spec) 'uuid)
+                  (else 'label))
             'uuid)
         title))
 
@@ -323,7 +326,11 @@ the following:
      ;; Resolve the label.
      (resolve find-partition-by-label spec identity))
     ((uuid)
-     (resolve find-partition-by-uuid spec uuid->string))
+     (resolve find-partition-by-uuid
+              (if (string? spec)
+                  (string->uuid spec)
+                  spec)
+              uuid->string))
     (else
      (error "unknown device title" title))))
 
diff --git a/gnu/system.scm b/gnu/system.scm
index acb7f15e4e..6dfcc0fe3a 100644
--- a/gnu/system.scm
+++ b/gnu/system.scm
@@ -673,12 +673,14 @@ listed in OS.  The C library expects to find it under
       ((system      (operating-system-derivation os))
        (root-fs ->  (operating-system-root-file-system os))
        (kernel ->   (operating-system-kernel os))
+       (root-device -> (if (eq? 'uuid (file-system-title root-fs))
+                           (uuid->string (file-system-device root-fs))
+                           (file-system-device root-fs)))
        (entries ->  (list (menu-entry
                            (label (kernel->grub-label kernel))
                            (linux kernel)
                            (linux-arguments
-                            (cons* (string-append "--root="
-                                                  (file-system-device root-fs))
+                            (cons* (string-append "--root=" root-device)
                                    #~(string-append "--system=" #$system)
                                    #~(string-append "--load=" #$system
                                                     "/boot")