diff --git a/lib/util.c b/lib/util.c
index f58a764f..c3d39f27 100644
--- a/lib/util.c
+++ b/lib/util.c
@@ -211,15 +211,15 @@ get_pkg_index_remote_plist(const char *uri)
 	if (uri_fixed == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
-	repodir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s/%s",
-	    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
-	    XBPS_META_PATH, uri_fixed, XBPS_PKGINDEX);
-	if (repodir == NULL) {
-		free(uri_fixed);
-		return NULL;
+	if (prop_string_equals_cstring(xhp->rootdir, "/")) {
+		repodir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s",
+		    XBPS_META_PATH, uri_fixed, XBPS_PKGINDEX);
+	} else {
+		repodir = xbps_xasprintf("%s/%s/%s",
+		    prop_string_cstring_nocopy(xhp->rootdir),
+		    XBPS_META_PATH, uri_fixed, XBPS_PKGINDEX);
 	}
 	free(uri_fixed);
-
 	return repodir;
 }