diff --git a/initramfs-init b/initramfs-init
index f43d8d1..b427de3 100755
--- a/initramfs-init
+++ b/initramfs-init
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ if [ -n "$KOPT_chart" ]; then
 fi
 apkflags="--initdb --quiet --progress --force"
 if [ -z "$KOPT_keep_apk_new" ]; then
-	apkflags=" --clean-protected"
+	apkflags="$apkflags --clean-protected"
 fi
 apk add --root /newroot $apkflags $pkgs >/dev/null
 eend $?