diff --git a/src/kernel/core/fs/rootfs.c b/src/kernel/core/fs/rootfs.c
index 02c14317e0..5c65968023 100755
--- a/src/kernel/core/fs/rootfs.c
+++ b/src/kernel/core/fs/rootfs.c
@@ -481,6 +481,7 @@ static status_t
 rootfs_open(fs_cookie _fs, fs_vnode _v, int oflags, file_cookie *_cookie)
 {
 	// allow to open the file, but it can't be done anything with it
+	*_cookie = NULL;	// help rootfs_free_cookie() to knows if a rootfs_cookie should be free() or not!
 	return B_OK;
 }