diff --git a/boot/boot-stage-2-init.sh b/boot/boot-stage-2-init.sh
index 02e33b91912f..b7a95cae9f16 100644
--- a/boot/boot-stage-2-init.sh
+++ b/boot/boot-stage-2-init.sh
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ needWritableDir /root 0700
 rm -rf /var/run
 
 if test -n "$safeMode"; then
+    mkdir -m 0755 -p /var/run
     touch /var/run/safemode
 fi