diff --git a/generate.go b/generate.go
index a86646cae..249f86a7b 100644
--- a/generate.go
+++ b/generate.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var generateFlags = []cli.Flag{
-	cli.StringFlag{Name: "rootfs", Usage: "path to the rootfs"},
+	cli.StringFlag{Name: "rootfs", Value: "rootfs", Usage: "path to the rootfs"},
 	cli.BoolFlag{Name: "read-only", Usage: "make the container's rootfs read-only"},
 	cli.BoolFlag{Name: "privileged", Usage: "enabled privileged container settings"},
 	cli.StringFlag{Name: "hostname", Value: "acme", Usage: "hostname value for the container"},
diff --git a/test_runtime.sh b/test_runtime.sh
index b41c3d0c2..fd48d0a01 100755
--- a/test_runtime.sh
+++ b/test_runtime.sh
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ cp runtimetest ${TESTDIR}
 
 
 pushd $TESTDIR > /dev/null
-ocitools generate --args /runtimetest
+ocitools generate --args /runtimetest --rootfs ""
 popd > /dev/null
 
 TESTCMD="${RUNTIME} start"