diff --git a/sys/alpha/alpha/autoconf.c b/sys/alpha/alpha/autoconf.c
index 205404f54d7e..fc8f699f1fd8 100644
--- a/sys/alpha/alpha/autoconf.c
+++ b/sys/alpha/alpha/autoconf.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
  * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
- *	$Id: autoconf.c,v 1.10 1998/09/26 14:48:19 dfr Exp $
+ *	$Id: autoconf.c,v 1.11 1998/10/06 08:38:04 dfr Exp $
  */
 
 #include "opt_bootp.h"
@@ -217,9 +217,14 @@ cpu_rootconf()
 {
 #ifdef MFS_ROOT
 	if (!mountrootfsname) {
+		extern u_char *mfs_getimage __P((void));
+
 		if (bootverbose)
 			printf("Considering MFS root f/s.\n");
-		mountrootfsname = "mfs";
+		if (mfs_getimage())
+			mountrootfsname = "mfs";
+		else if (bootverbose)
+			printf("No MFS image available as root f/s.\n");
 	}
 #endif