diff --git a/core/Makefile b/core/Makefile
index 84524946a..19e69ac23 100644
--- a/core/Makefile
+++ b/core/Makefile
@@ -2775,9 +2775,15 @@ ifdef BOARD_PRODUCTIMAGE_FILE_SYSTEM_TYPE
 	$(hide) $(call fs_config,$(zip_root)/PRODUCT,product/) > $(zip_root)/META/product_filesystem_config.txt
 endif
 ifeq ($(BOARD_BUILD_SYSTEM_ROOT_IMAGE),true)
+	@# When using BOARD_BUILD_SYSTEM_ROOT_IMAGE, ROOT always contains the files for the root under
+	@# normal boot. BOOT/RAMDISK exists only if additionally using BOARD_USES_RECOVERY_AS_BOOT.
 	$(hide) $(call fs_config,$(zip_root)/ROOT,) > $(zip_root)/META/root_filesystem_config.txt
-endif
+ifeq ($(BOARD_USES_RECOVERY_AS_BOOT),true)
 	$(hide) $(call fs_config,$(zip_root)/BOOT/RAMDISK,) > $(zip_root)/META/boot_filesystem_config.txt
+endif
+else # BOARD_BUILD_SYSTEM_ROOT_IMAGE != true
+	$(hide) $(call fs_config,$(zip_root)/BOOT/RAMDISK,) > $(zip_root)/META/boot_filesystem_config.txt
+endif
 ifneq ($(INSTALLED_RECOVERYIMAGE_TARGET),)
 	$(hide) $(call fs_config,$(zip_root)/RECOVERY/RAMDISK,) > $(zip_root)/META/recovery_filesystem_config.txt
 endif