diff --git a/handlers.go b/handlers.go
index 27d361b3..a324fbce 100644
--- a/handlers.go
+++ b/handlers.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ var JailerConfigValidationHandler = Handler{
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		hasRoot := false
+		hasRoot := m.Cfg.InitrdPath != ""
 		for _, drive := range m.Cfg.Drives {
 			if BoolValue(drive.IsRootDevice) {
 				hasRoot = true
diff --git a/jailer.go b/jailer.go
index 56d89265..dda2bb4f 100644
--- a/jailer.go
+++ b/jailer.go
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ func LinkFilesHandler(kernelImageFileName string) Handler {
 
 			initrdFilename := ""
 			if m.Cfg.InitrdPath != "" {
-				initrdFilename := filepath.Base(m.Cfg.InitrdPath)
+				initrdFilename = filepath.Base(m.Cfg.InitrdPath)
 				// copy initrd to root fs
 				if err := os.Link(
 					m.Cfg.InitrdPath,