diff --git a/init.d/root.in b/init.d/root.in
index 28be9363b..a07b312d0 100644
--- a/init.d/root.in
+++ b/init.d/root.in
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ depend()
 start()
 {
 	local root_opts=",$(fstabinfo -o /),"
-	case "$root_opts" in
+	case ",${root_opts}," in
 		*,ro,*)
 		;;
 		*)
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ start()
 		;;
 	esac
 
-	case "$root_opts" in
+	case ",${root_opts}," in
 		*,shared,*|*,rshared,*)
 			ebegin "Making root filesystem shared"
 			case "$RC_UNAME" in