diff --git a/fs/common.mk b/fs/common.mk
index 19a975aa47..1915fbbe9b 100644
--- a/fs/common.mk
+++ b/fs/common.mk
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ ROOTFS_USERS_TABLES = $(call qstrip,$(BR2_ROOTFS_USERS_TABLES))
 # all variable references except the arguments must be $$-quoted.
 define inner-rootfs
 
+ROOTFS_$(2)_DIR = $$(FS_DIR)/$(1)
+
 # extra deps
 ROOTFS_$(2)_DEPENDENCIES += host-fakeroot host-makedevs \
 	$$(if $$(PACKAGES_USERS)$$(ROOTFS_USERS_TABLES),host-mkpasswd)