diff --git a/stand/common/metadata.c b/stand/common/metadata.c
--- a/stand/common/metadata.c
+++ b/stand/common/metadata.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
      * tested/set by MI code before launching the kernel.
      */
     rootdevname = getenv("rootdev");
-    if (rootdevname == NULL)
+    if (rootdevname == NULL || *rootdevname == '\0')
 	rootdevname = getenv("currdev");
     /* Try reading the /etc/fstab file to select the root device */
     getrootmount(rootdevname);
diff --git a/stand/efi/loader/main.c b/stand/efi/loader/main.c
--- a/stand/efi/loader/main.c
+++ b/stand/efi/loader/main.c
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@
 	 * it's wrong.
 	 */
 	rootdev = getenv("rootdev");
-	if (rootdev != NULL) {
+	if (rootdev != NULL && *rootdev != '\0') {
 		printf("    Setting currdev to configured rootdev %s\n",
 		    rootdev);
 		set_currdev(rootdev);