diff --git a/target/linux/olpc/image/Makefile b/target/linux/olpc/image/Makefile
index eb1bedd0a0..f60b76e204 100644
--- a/target/linux/olpc/image/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/olpc/image/Makefile
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ ifeq ($(CONFIG_OLPC_BOOTSCRIPT_IMAGES),y)
   endef
 
   define Image/cmdline/ext2
-    root=$(ROOTPART) rootfstype=ext2
+    root=$(ROOTPART) rootfstype=ext2 rootwait
   endef
 
   define Image/Build/bootscript