diff --git a/drivers/common/src/lib.rs b/drivers/common/src/lib.rs
index 8259bbdc53..9509b51f3d 100644
--- a/drivers/common/src/lib.rs
+++ b/drivers/common/src/lib.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ pub fn init() {
 pub fn memory_root_fd() -> &'static libredox::Fd {
     MEMORY_ROOT_FD
         .get()
-        .expect("acpid: failed to get memory_root_fd")
+        .expect("drivers common: memory root fd not initialized. Please call `common::init` in your main function.")
 }
 
 /// Specifies the write behavior for a specific region of memory
diff --git a/drivers/storage/virtio-blkd/src/main.rs b/drivers/storage/virtio-blkd/src/main.rs
index d21236b377..ef703afa5c 100644
--- a/drivers/storage/virtio-blkd/src/main.rs
+++ b/drivers/storage/virtio-blkd/src/main.rs
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ pub struct BlockVirtRequest {
 const_assert_eq!(core::mem::size_of::<BlockVirtRequest>(), 16);
 
 fn main() {
+    common::init();
     pcid_interface::pci_daemon(daemon_runner);
 }