diff --git a/zdev/dracut/95zdev/module-setup.sh b/zdev/dracut/95zdev/module-setup.sh
index 9079f355..4d4ae053 100644
--- a/zdev/dracut/95zdev/module-setup.sh
+++ b/zdev/dracut/95zdev/module-setup.sh
@@ -45,23 +45,12 @@ install() {
     # Hook to parse zdev kernel parameter
     inst_hook cmdline 95 "$moddir/parse-zdev.sh"
 
-    # Obtain root device configuration
-
-    # Exit early if root device type is unknown
-    if ! lszdev --by-path / >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
-        return 0
-    fi
-
+    # Obtain early + root device configuration
     _tempfile=$(mktemp --tmpdir dracut-zdev.XXXXXX)
-
-    if chzdev --export - --persistent --by-path / >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then
-        # Use persistent configuration
-        chzdev --export "$_tempfile" --persistent --by-path / --quiet --type
-    else
-        # Use active configuration
-        chzdev --export "$_tempfile" --active --by-path / --quiet --type
-        sed -i -e 's/active/persistent/g' "$_tempfile"
-    fi
+    chzdev --export "$_tempfile" --persistent --by-path / --quiet \
+	   --type 2>/dev/null
+    chzdev --export - --persistent --by-attrib "zdev:early=1" --quiet \
+	   --type 2>/dev/null >> "$_tempfile"
 
     # Apply via --import to prevent other devices from being configured
     chzdev --import "$_tempfile" --persistent --base "/etc=$initdir/etc" \
diff --git a/zdev/include/internal.h b/zdev/include/internal.h
index a658988a..044112fc 100644
--- a/zdev/include/internal.h
+++ b/zdev/include/internal.h
@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
+#include "attrib.h"
+
 #define INTERNAL_ATTR_PREFIX	"zdev:"
+#define	INTERNAL_ATTR_EARLY	INTERNAL_ATTR_PREFIX "early"
+
+extern struct attrib internal_attr_early;
 
 const char *internal_get_name(const char *name);
 bool internal_by_name(const char *name);
diff --git a/zdev/initramfs/hooks/zdev b/zdev/initramfs/hooks/zdev
index 234e5bb0..7ba771e1 100644
--- a/zdev/initramfs/hooks/zdev
+++ b/zdev/initramfs/hooks/zdev
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 #   configuration data during boot.
 #
 
-PREREQ=""
+# Needs to run after udev or resulting udev rules could be overwritten
+PREREQ="udev"
 
 prereqs()
 {
@@ -37,3 +38,19 @@ done
 copy_exec /sbin/chzdev
 copy_exec /sbin/lszdev
 copy_exec /sbin/vmcp
+
+_tempfile=$(mktemp --tmpdir initramfs-zdev.XXXXXX)
+
+# Obtain early + root device configuration
+chzdev --export "$_tempfile" --persistent --by-path / \
+       --by-attrib "zdev:early=1" --quiet --type 2>/dev/null
+
+# Apply via --import to prevent other devices from being configured.
+# Rename the resulting cio-ignore rule to ensure that it does not override
+# the one copied by the initramfs udev hook to /lib/udev.
+chzdev --import "$_tempfile" --persistent \
+       --base "/etc/udev/rules.d/41-cio-ignore.rules=$DESTDIR/etc/udev/rules.d/41-cio-ignore-root.rules" \
+       --base "/etc=$DESTDIR/etc" --yes --quiet --no-root-update --force \
+       >/dev/null
+
+rm -f "$_tempfile"
diff --git a/zdev/man/chzdev.8 b/zdev/man/chzdev.8
index b0c24af5..67a5dce6 100644
--- a/zdev/man/chzdev.8
+++ b/zdev/man/chzdev.8
@@ -334,6 +334,35 @@ a specific attribute.
 .PP
 .
 .
+.SS "Special settings"
+The following special settings affect how devices are handled by chzdev:
+.PP
+.
+.BR zdev:early =0|1
+.RS 4
+Control in which stage of the boot process a device is activated:
+.TP 4
+.B 0
+Device is activated normally during boot (default).
+.PP
+.TP 4
+.B 1
+Device is activated early in the boot process, by the initial RAM-disk.
+.PP
+Specify a value of 1 for this attribute in any of the following situations:
+.TP 4
+\(bu
+To ensure that your settings override auto-configuration settings.
+.PP
+.TP 4
+\(bu
+To ensure that a device required to access the root file system is correctly
+enabled during boot. An example would be a networking device, or a device that
+is intended to extend a logical volume that provides the root file system.
+.PP
+.RE
+.
+.
 .SH ACTIONS
 You can use one of the action options listed below to specify the
 .B main tool action
diff --git a/zdev/src/chzdev.c b/zdev/src/chzdev.c
index 4372e546..7452ad16 100644
--- a/zdev/src/chzdev.c
+++ b/zdev/src/chzdev.c
@@ -3025,8 +3025,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	if ((pers_mod_devs || pers_mod_devtypes) && !opts.no_root_check &&
 	    !dryrun) {
-		/* If the root device/device type has been modified, additional
-		 * work might be necessary. */
+		/* If the root device/device type or early devices have been
+		 * modified, additional work might be necessary. */
 		rc = root_check();
 		if (rc && !drc)
 			drc = rc;
diff --git a/zdev/src/ctc.c b/zdev/src/ctc.c
index d96729cc..27b075db 100644
--- a/zdev/src/ctc.c
+++ b/zdev/src/ctc.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "ctc_auto.h"
 #include "device.h"
 #include "devtype.h"
+#include "internal.h"
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "namespace.h"
 #include "path.h"
@@ -425,6 +426,7 @@ static struct subtype ctc_subtype = {
 		&ccw_attr_online,
 		&ctc_attr_buffer,
 		&ctc_attr_protocol,
+		&internal_attr_early,
 	),
 	.unknown_dev_attribs	= 1,
 	.support_definable	= 1,
diff --git a/zdev/src/dasd.c b/zdev/src/dasd.c
index 510339fc..645e8b02 100644
--- a/zdev/src/dasd.c
+++ b/zdev/src/dasd.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "dasd.h"
 #include "device.h"
 #include "devtype.h"
+#include "internal.h"
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "modprobe.h"
 #include "module.h"
@@ -616,6 +617,7 @@ struct subtype dasd_subtype_eckd = {
 		&dasd_attr_reservation_policy,
 		&dasd_attr_last_known_reservation_state,
 		&dasd_attr_safe_offline,
+		&internal_attr_early,
 	),
 	.unknown_dev_attribs	= 1,
 
@@ -651,6 +653,7 @@ struct subtype dasd_subtype_fba = {
 		&dasd_attr_reservation_policy,
 		&dasd_attr_last_known_reservation_state,
 		&dasd_attr_safe_offline,
+		&internal_attr_early,
 	),
 	.unknown_dev_attribs	= 1,
 
diff --git a/zdev/src/generic_ccw.c b/zdev/src/generic_ccw.c
index 9132d4a7..1ec8a2a2 100644
--- a/zdev/src/generic_ccw.c
+++ b/zdev/src/generic_ccw.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "devnode.h"
 #include "devtype.h"
 #include "generic_ccw.h"
+#include "internal.h"
 #include "namespace.h"
 #include "path.h"
 #include "subtype.h"
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ static struct subtype generic_ccw_subtype = {
 	.dev_attribs = ATTRIB_ARRAY(
 		&ccw_attr_online,
 		&ccw_attr_cmb_enable,
+		&internal_attr_early,
 	),
 	.unknown_dev_attribs	= 1,
 	.generic		= 1,
diff --git a/zdev/src/internal.c b/zdev/src/internal.c
index 6472bf39..ec5a42fa 100644
--- a/zdev/src/internal.c
+++ b/zdev/src/internal.c
@@ -9,9 +9,22 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
+#include "attrib.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "misc.h"
 
+struct attrib internal_attr_early = {
+	.name = INTERNAL_ATTR_EARLY,
+	.title = "Activate device early during boot",
+	.desc = "Control the time of activation of a device:\n"
+		"  0: Device is activated normally during boot\n"
+		"  1: Device is activated early in the boot process, by the\n"
+		"     initial RAM-disk\n",
+	.defval = "0",
+	.accept = ACCEPT_ARRAY(ACCEPT_RANGE(0, 1)),
+	.internal = 1,
+};
+
 /* Return identifier of internal attribute with specified @name. */
 const char *internal_get_name(const char *name)
 {
diff --git a/zdev/src/lcs.c b/zdev/src/lcs.c
index 1859891c..861d030d 100644
--- a/zdev/src/lcs.c
+++ b/zdev/src/lcs.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "ccwgroup.h"
 #include "device.h"
 #include "devtype.h"
+#include "internal.h"
 #include "lcs.h"
 #include "lcs_auto.h"
 #include "misc.h"
@@ -362,6 +363,7 @@ static struct subtype lcs_subtype = {
 		&ccw_attr_online,
 		&lcs_attr_lancmd_timeout,
 		&lcs_attr_recover,
+		&internal_attr_early,
 	),
 	.unknown_dev_attribs	= 1,
 	.support_definable	= 1,
diff --git a/zdev/src/qeth.c b/zdev/src/qeth.c
index 07b8d8e9..46bc23d6 100644
--- a/zdev/src/qeth.c
+++ b/zdev/src/qeth.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "ccwgroup.h"
 #include "device.h"
 #include "devtype.h"
+#include "internal.h"
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "namespace.h"
 #include "nic.h"
@@ -1445,6 +1446,7 @@ struct subtype qeth_subtype_qeth = {
 		&qeth_attr_vnicc_takeover_learning,
 		&qeth_attr_vnicc_bridge_invisible,
 		&qeth_attr_vnicc_rx_bcast,
+		&internal_attr_early,
 	),
 	.unknown_dev_attribs	= 1,
 	.support_definable	= 1,
diff --git a/zdev/src/root.c b/zdev/src/root.c
index 173071b7..a6d9e0cc 100644
--- a/zdev/src/root.c
+++ b/zdev/src/root.c
@@ -8,11 +8,13 @@
  */
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
 #include "lib/util_path.h"
 
 #include "device.h"
 #include "devtype.h"
+#include "internal.h"
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "path.h"
 #include "root.h"
@@ -20,31 +22,78 @@
 #include "setting.h"
 #include "subtype.h"
 
-/* Determine if the root device was modified. If it was modified, run the
- * corresponding root-install scripts. */
+static bool is_early_removed(struct device *dev)
+{
+	struct setting *s;
+
+	s = setting_list_find(dev->persistent.settings,
+			      internal_attr_early.name);
+	if (!s || !s->modified)
+		return false;
+	if (!s->actual_value || strcmp(s->actual_value, "1") != 0)
+		return false;
+	if (s->removed || strcmp(s->value, "0") == 0)
+		return true;
+	return false;
+}
+
+static void add_early_removed(struct util_list *selected)
+{
+	int i, j;
+	struct devtype *dt;
+	struct subtype *st;
+	struct device *dev;
+
+	for (i = 0; devtypes[i]; i++) {
+		dt = devtypes[i];
+		for (j = 0; dt->subtypes[j]; j++) {
+			st = dt->subtypes[j];
+			util_list_iterate(&st->devices->hash.list, dev) {
+				if (is_early_removed(dev)) {
+					selected_dev_list_add(selected, dt, st,
+						dev->id, NULL, EXIT_OK);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+/* Determine if initial RAM-disk needs updating. If so, run the corresponding
+ * scripts if available. */
 exit_code_t root_check(void)
 {
 	struct util_list *selected, *params, *mod = NULL;
 	struct selected_dev_node *sel;
 	struct device *dev;
 	char *params_str;
-	exit_code_t rc;
+	exit_code_t rc = EXIT_OK;
 	struct strlist_node *s;
 	struct devtype *dt;
+	struct select_opts *select;
 
-	debug("Checking for modified root device configuration\n");
+	debug("Checking for required initial RAM-disk update\n");
 
-	/* Get list of devices that provide the root device. */
+	/* Get list of devices that provide the root device or require
+	 * early configuration. */
 	selected = selected_dev_list_new();
-	rc = select_by_path(NULL, selected, config_active, scope_mandatory,
-			    NULL, NULL, PATH_ROOT, err_ignore);
-	if (rc) {
+	/* First add devices that had zdev:early removed or changed to 0.
+	 * The subsequent call to select_devices() will filter out any
+	 * duplicates. */
+	add_early_removed(selected);
+	/* Now add devices required for root file system. */
+	if (select_by_path(NULL, selected, config_active, scope_mandatory,
+			   NULL, NULL, PATH_ROOT, err_ignore)) {
 		/* Running from an unknown root device is not an error. */
 		verb("Note: Could not determine if root device configuration "
 		     "needs to be updated\n");
-		rc = 0;
-		goto out;
 	}
+	/* Finally add devices with zdev:early=1. */
+	select = select_opts_new();
+	strlist_add(&select->by_attr, "%s=1", INTERNAL_ATTR_EARLY);
+	select_devices(select, selected, 1, 0, 0,
+		       config_active | config_persistent, scope_mandatory,
+		       err_ignore);
+	select_opts_free(select);
 
 	/* Determine if any of the devices or device types has been modified. */
 	mod = strlist_new();
@@ -68,19 +117,18 @@ exit_code_t root_check(void)
 
 	if (util_list_is_empty(mod))
 		goto out;
-	info("Note: Some of the changes affect devices providing the root "
-	     "file system:\n");
+	info("Note: The initial RAM-disk must be updated for these changes to take effect:\n");
 	util_list_iterate(mod, s)
 		info("       - %s\n", s->str);
-	info("      Additional steps such as rebuilding the RAM-disk might be "
-	     "required.\n");
 
 	/* Check if script is available. */
-	if (!util_path_is_reg_file(PATH_ROOT_SCRIPT))
+	if (!util_path_is_reg_file(PATH_ROOT_SCRIPT)) {
+		warn("A manual update of the initial RAM-disk is required.\n");
 		goto out;
+	}
 
 	/* Ask for confirmation. */
-	if (!confirm("Update persistent root device configuration now?")) {
+	if (!confirm("Update initial RAM-disk now?")) {
 		rc = EXIT_ABORTED;
 		goto out;
 	}
@@ -97,7 +145,7 @@ exit_code_t root_check(void)
 	/* Run update command. */
 	if (misc_system(err_delayed_print, "%s %s", PATH_ROOT_SCRIPT,
 			params_str) != 0) {
-		error("Failure while updating root device configuration\n");
+		error("Failure while updating initial RAM-disk\n");
 		delayed_print(DELAY_INDENT);
 		rc = EXIT_RUNTIME_ERROR;
 	}
diff --git a/zdev/src/zfcp_host.c b/zdev/src/zfcp_host.c
index 9e739734..729bc425 100644
--- a/zdev/src/zfcp_host.c
+++ b/zdev/src/zfcp_host.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "ccw.h"
 #include "device.h"
 #include "devtype.h"
+#include "internal.h"
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "path.h"
 #include "setting.h"
@@ -247,6 +248,7 @@ struct subtype zfcp_host_subtype = {
 		&zfcp_host_attr_failed,
 		&zfcp_host_attr_port_remove,
 		&zfcp_host_attr_port_rescan,
+		&internal_attr_early,
 	),
 	.unknown_dev_attribs	= 1,
 
diff --git a/zdev/src/zfcp_lun.c b/zdev/src/zfcp_lun.c
index d5a148e6..f16cbfd8 100644
--- a/zdev/src/zfcp_lun.c
+++ b/zdev/src/zfcp_lun.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "devnode.h"
 #include "devtype.h"
 #include "misc.h"
+#include "internal.h"
 #include "namespace.h"
 #include "path.h"
 #include "scsi.h"
@@ -1097,6 +1098,7 @@ struct subtype zfcp_lun_subtype = {
 		&zfcp_lun_attr_scsi_timeout,
 		&zfcp_lun_attr_scsi_state,
 		&zfcp_lun_attr_scsi_delete,
+		&internal_attr_early,
 	),
 	.prefixes = STRING_ARRAY(SCSI_ATTR_PREFIX),
 	.unknown_dev_attribs	= 1,