diff --git a/target/default/target_skeleton/etc/preinit b/target/default/target_skeleton/etc/preinit
index c6ad0d7065..9a80a7e079 100755
--- a/target/default/target_skeleton/etc/preinit
+++ b/target/default/target_skeleton/etc/preinit
@@ -6,27 +6,7 @@ sleep 1
 if [ $(cat /proc/sys/reset) = 1 ] ; then
   export FAILSAFE=true
   while :; do { echo $(((X=(X+1)%8)%2)) > /proc/sys/diag; sleep $((X==0)); } done &
-else
-  mount | grep jffs2 >&-
-  if [ $? = 0 ] ; then
-    mtd unlock rootfs
-    [ $(cat /proc/mtd | wc -l) = 6 ] && {
-      echo 5 > /proc/sys/diag
-      mtd unlock OpenWrt
-      mtd erase OpenWrt
-      jffs2root --move
-    }
-    mount -o remount,rw /dev/root /
-  else
-    mtd unlock mtd4
-    mount -t jffs2 /dev/mtdblock/4 /jffs
-    pivot_root /jffs /jffs/rom
-    mount none /dev -t devfs
-    mount none /proc -t proc
-    umount rom/proc rom/dev
-  fi
 fi
-mount none /tmp -t ramfs
-mkdir -p /dev/pts
-mount none /dev/pts -t devpts
+/sbin/mount_root ${FAILSAFE:+failsafe}
+
 exec /sbin/init
diff --git a/target/default/target_skeleton/sbin/mount_root b/target/default/target_skeleton/sbin/mount_root
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..db73eaed50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/target/default/target_skeleton/sbin/mount_root
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+if [ "$1" != "failsafe" ]; then 
+	mount | grep jffs2 >&-
+	if [ $? = 0 ] ; then
+		mtd unlock rootfs
+		[ $(cat /proc/mtd | wc -l) = 6 ] && {
+			echo 5 > /proc/sys/diag
+			mtd unlock OpenWrt
+			mtd erase OpenWrt
+			jffs2root --move
+		}
+		mount -o remount,rw /dev/root /
+	else
+		mtd unlock mtd4
+		mount -t jffs2 /dev/mtdblock/4 /jffs
+		pivot_root /jffs /jffs/rom
+		mount none /proc -t proc
+		mount none /dev -t devfs
+		umount rom/proc rom/dev
+	fi
+fi
+mount none /tmp -t ramfs
+mkdir -p /dev/pts
+mount none /dev/pts -t devpts