diff --git a/autoload/ale/assert.vim b/autoload/ale/assert.vim
index 7db0a22e..8c7a5461 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/assert.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/assert.vim
@@ -265,11 +265,11 @@ function! ale#assert#SetUpLinterTest(filetype, name) abort
     call ale#linter#Reset()
     call ale#linter#PreventLoading(a:filetype)
 
-    Save g:ale_lsp_root
-    let g:ale_lsp_root = {}
+    Save g:ale_root
+    let g:ale_root = {}
 
-    Save b:ale_lsp_root
-    unlet! b:ale_lsp_root
+    Save b:ale_root
+    unlet! b:ale_root
 
     call ale#assert#ResetVariables(a:filetype, a:name)
 
diff --git a/autoload/ale/debugging.vim b/autoload/ale/debugging.vim
index 5e6d5906..1f7ea467 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/debugging.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/debugging.vim
@@ -33,13 +33,13 @@ let s:global_variable_list = [
 \    'ale_list_vertical',
 \    'ale_list_window_size',
 \    'ale_loclist_msg_format',
-\    'ale_lsp_root',
 \    'ale_max_buffer_history_size',
 \    'ale_max_signs',
 \    'ale_maximum_file_size',
 \    'ale_open_list',
 \    'ale_pattern_options',
 \    'ale_pattern_options_enabled',
+\    'ale_root',
 \    'ale_set_balloons',
 \    'ale_set_highlights',
 \    'ale_set_loclist',
diff --git a/autoload/ale/lsp_linter.vim b/autoload/ale/lsp_linter.vim
index 2a3902b6..0d039198 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/lsp_linter.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/lsp_linter.vim
@@ -201,7 +201,11 @@ function! ale#lsp_linter#GetConfig(buffer, linter) abort
 endfunction
 
 function! ale#lsp_linter#FindProjectRoot(buffer, linter) abort
-    let l:buffer_ale_root = getbufvar(a:buffer, 'ale_lsp_root', {})
+    let l:buffer_ale_root = getbufvar(
+    \   a:buffer,
+    \   'ale_root',
+    \   getbufvar(a:buffer, 'ale_lsp_root', {})
+    \)
 
     if type(l:buffer_ale_root) is v:t_string
         return l:buffer_ale_root
@@ -218,9 +222,15 @@ function! ale#lsp_linter#FindProjectRoot(buffer, linter) abort
         endif
     endif
 
+    let l:global_root = g:ale_root
+
+    if empty(g:ale_root) && exists('g:ale_lsp_root')
+        let l:global_root = g:ale_lsp_root
+    endif
+
     " Try to get a global setting for the root
-    if has_key(g:ale_lsp_root, a:linter.name)
-        let l:Root = g:ale_lsp_root[a:linter.name]
+    if has_key(l:global_root, a:linter.name)
+        let l:Root = l:global_root[a:linter.name]
 
         if type(l:Root) is v:t_func
             return l:Root(a:buffer)
diff --git a/doc/ale.txt b/doc/ale.txt
index 1ea65a33..5376a16c 100644
--- a/doc/ale.txt
+++ b/doc/ale.txt
@@ -963,8 +963,8 @@ g:ale_default_navigation                             *g:ale_default_navigation*
   buffer, such as for |ALEFindReferences|, or |ALEGoToDefinition|.
 
 
-g:ale_detail_to_floating_preview                            *g:ale_detail_to_floating_preview*
-                                                            *b:ale_detail_to_floating_preview*
+g:ale_detail_to_floating_preview             *g:ale_detail_to_floating_preview*
+                                             *b:ale_detail_to_floating_preview*
   Type: |Number|
   Default: `0`
 
@@ -1195,7 +1195,7 @@ g:ale_fix_on_save_ignore                             *g:ale_fix_on_save_ignore*
   let g:ale_fix_on_save_ignore = [g:AddBar]
 <
 
-g:ale_floating_preview                                       *g:ale_floating_preview*
+g:ale_floating_preview                                 *g:ale_floating_preview*
 
   Type: |Number|
   Default: `0`
@@ -1263,8 +1263,8 @@ g:ale_hover_to_preview                                 *g:ale_hover_to_preview*
   instead of in balloons or the message line.
 
 
-g:ale_hover_to_floating_preview                       *g:ale_hover_to_floating_preview*
-                                                      *b:ale_hover_to_floating_preview*
+g:ale_hover_to_floating_preview               *g:ale_hover_to_floating_preview*
+                                              *b:ale_hover_to_floating_preview*
   Type: |Number|
   Default: `0`
 
@@ -1724,24 +1724,6 @@ g:ale_lsp_suggestions                                   *g:ale_lsp_suggestions*
   addition to warnings and errors.
 
 
-g:ale_lsp_root                                                 *g:ale_lsp_root*
-                                                               *b:ale_lsp_root*
-
-  Type: |Dictionary| or |String|
-  Default: {}
-
-  This option is used to determine the project root for the LSP linter. If the
-  value is a |Dictionary|, it maps a linter to either a string containing the
-  project root or a |Funcref| to call to look up the root. The funcref is
-  provided the buffer number as its argument.
-
-  The buffer-specific variable may additionally be a string containing the
-  project root itself.
-
-  If neither variable yields a result, a linter-specific function is invoked to
-  detect a project root. If this, too, yields no result, the linter is disabled.
-
-
 g:ale_max_buffer_history_size                   *g:ale_max_buffer_history_size*
 
   Type: |Number|
@@ -1886,6 +1868,25 @@ g:ale_rename_tsserver_find_in_strings   *g:ale_rename_tsserver_find_in_strings*
   `1`.
 
 
+g:ale_root                                                         *g:ale_root*
+                                                                   *b:ale_root*
+
+  Type: |Dictionary| or |String|
+  Default: {}
+
+  This option is used to determine the project root for a linter. If the value
+  is a |Dictionary|, it maps a linter to either a |String| containing the
+  project root or a |Funcref| to call to look up the root. The |Funcref| is
+  provided the buffer number as its argument.
+
+  The buffer-specific variable may additionally be a string containing the
+  project root itself.
+
+  If neither variable yields a result, a linter-specific function is invoked to
+  detect a project root. If this, too, yields no result, and the linter is an
+  LSP linter, it will not run.
+
+
 g:ale_set_balloons                                         *g:ale_set_balloons*
                                                            *b:ale_set_balloons*
 
diff --git a/plugin/ale.vim b/plugin/ale.vim
index 845586be..540ba11b 100644
--- a/plugin/ale.vim
+++ b/plugin/ale.vim
@@ -87,9 +87,6 @@ let g:ale_lint_on_save = get(g:, 'ale_lint_on_save', 1)
 " This flag can be set to 1 to enable linting when the filetype is changed.
 let g:ale_lint_on_filetype_changed = get(g:, 'ale_lint_on_filetype_changed', 1)
 
-" This Dictionary configures the default LSP roots for various linters.
-let g:ale_lsp_root = get(g:, 'ale_lsp_root', {})
-
 " If set to 1, hints and suggestion from LSP servers and tsserver will be shown.
 let g:ale_lsp_suggestions = get(g:, 'ale_lsp_suggestions', 0)
 
@@ -104,6 +101,9 @@ let g:ale_enabled = get(g:, 'ale_enabled', 1)
 " mapping filename paths from one system to another.
 let g:ale_filename_mappings = get(g:, 'ale_filename_mappings', {})
 
+" This Dictionary configures the default project roots for various linters.
+let g:ale_root = get(g:, 'ale_root', {})
+
 " These flags dictates if ale uses the quickfix or the loclist (loclist is the
 " default, quickfix overrides loclist).
 let g:ale_set_loclist = get(g:, 'ale_set_loclist', 1)
diff --git a/test/lsp/test_lsp_root_detection.vader b/test/lsp/test_lsp_root_detection.vader
index 3de4d825..291300f0 100644
--- a/test/lsp/test_lsp_root_detection.vader
+++ b/test/lsp/test_lsp_root_detection.vader
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 Before:
+  Save g:ale_lsp_root
+  Save g:ale_root
+  Save b:ale_lsp_root
+  Save b:ale_root
+
+  unlet! g:ale_lsp_root
+  let g:ale_root = {}
+
   call ale#assert#SetUpLinterTest('c', 'clangd')
 
   function! Hook1(buffer)
@@ -6,52 +14,72 @@ Before:
   endfunction
 
 After:
-  let g:ale_lsp_root = {}
-  unlet! b:ale_lsp_root
+  Restore
+
   delfunction Hook1
 
   call ale#assert#TearDownLinterTest()
 
 Execute(The buffer-specific variable can be a string):
-  let b:ale_lsp_root = '/some/path'
+  let b:ale_root = '/some/path'
   call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
 
   AssertLSPProject '/some/path'
 
 Execute(The buffer-specific variable can be a dictionary):
-  let b:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/other/path'}
+  let b:ale_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/other/path'}
   call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
 
   AssertLSPProject '/some/path'
 
 Execute(The buffer-specific variable can have funcrefs):
-  let b:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': function('Hook1'), 'golangserver': '/path'}
+  let b:ale_root = {'clangd': function('Hook1'), 'golangserver': '/path'}
   call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
 
   AssertLSPProject 'abc123'
 
+Execute(The buffer-specific variable can be the old ale_lsp_root setting):
+  let b:ale_lsp_root = '/some/path'
+  call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
+
+  AssertLSPProject '/some/path'
+
 Execute(The global variable can be a dictionary):
-  let g:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/other/path'}
+  let g:ale_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/other/path'}
   call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
 
   AssertLSPProject '/some/path'
 
 Execute(The global variable can have funcrefs):
-  let g:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': function('Hook1'), 'golangserver': '/path'}
+  let g:ale_root = {'clangd': function('Hook1'), 'golangserver': '/path'}
   call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
 
   AssertLSPProject 'abc123'
 
 Execute(The buffer-specific variable overrides the global variable):
-  let b:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/other/path'}
-  let g:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': '/not/this/path', 'golangserver': '/elsewhere'}
+  let b:ale_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/other/path'}
+  let g:ale_root = {'clangd': '/not/this/path', 'golangserver': '/elsewhere'}
   call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
 
   AssertLSPProject '/some/path'
 
 Execute(The global variable is queried if the buffer-specific has no value):
-  let b:ale_lsp_root = {'golangserver': '/other/path'}
-  let g:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/elsewhere'}
+  let b:ale_root = {'golangserver': '/other/path'}
+  let g:ale_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/elsewhere'}
+  call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
+
+  AssertLSPProject '/some/path'
+
+Execute(The global variable can be the old ale_lsp_root setting):
+  let g:ale_root = {}
+  let g:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/other/path'}
+  call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
+
+  AssertLSPProject '/some/path'
+
+Execute(A non-empty ale_root setting should replace the old ale_lsp_root):
+  let g:ale_root = {'clangd': '/some/path', 'golangserver': '/other/path'}
+  let g:ale_lsp_root = {'clangd': '/xxx', 'golangserver': '/xxx'}
   call ale#test#SetFilename('other-file.c')
 
   AssertLSPProject '/some/path'
diff --git a/test/test_ale_info.vader b/test/test_ale_info.vader
index 895ed2a7..2e0965a9 100644
--- a/test/test_ale_info.vader
+++ b/test/test_ale_info.vader
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ Before:
   Save g:ale_list_window_size
   Save g:ale_loclist_msg_format
   Save g:ale_lsp_error_messages
-  Save g:ale_lsp_root
   Save g:ale_max_buffer_history_size
   Save g:ale_max_signs
   Save g:ale_maximum_file_size
   Save g:ale_open_list
   Save g:ale_pattern_options
   Save g:ale_pattern_options_enabled
+  Save g:ale_root
   Save g:ale_set_balloons
   Save g:ale_set_highlights
   Save g:ale_set_loclist
@@ -88,13 +88,13 @@ Before:
   let g:ale_list_window_size = 10
   let g:ale_loclist_msg_format = '%code: %%s'
   let g:ale_lsp_error_messages = {}
-  let g:ale_lsp_root = {}
   let g:ale_max_buffer_history_size = 20
   let g:ale_max_signs = -1
   let g:ale_maximum_file_size = 0
   let g:ale_open_list = 0
   let g:ale_pattern_options = {}
   let g:ale_pattern_options_enabled = 0
+  let g:ale_root = {}
   let g:ale_set_balloons = 0
   let g:ale_set_highlights = 1
   let g:ale_set_loclist = 1
@@ -167,13 +167,13 @@ Before:
   \  'let g:ale_list_vertical = 0',
   \  'let g:ale_list_window_size = 10',
   \  'let g:ale_loclist_msg_format = ''%code: %%s''',
-  \  'let g:ale_lsp_root = {}',
   \  'let g:ale_max_buffer_history_size = 20',
   \  'let g:ale_max_signs = -1',
   \  'let g:ale_maximum_file_size = 0',
   \  'let g:ale_open_list = 0',
   \  'let g:ale_pattern_options = {}',
   \  'let g:ale_pattern_options_enabled = 0',
+  \  'let g:ale_root = {}',
   \  'let g:ale_set_balloons = 0',
   \  'let g:ale_set_highlights = 1',
   \  'let g:ale_set_loclist = 1',
diff --git a/test/test_linter_defintion_processing.vader b/test/test_linter_defintion_processing.vader
index fa1b6786..4c096a5e 100644
--- a/test/test_linter_defintion_processing.vader
+++ b/test/test_linter_defintion_processing.vader
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 Before:
-  Save g:ale_lsp_root
-  Save b:ale_lsp_root
+  Save g:ale_root
+  Save b:ale_root
 
-  let g:ale_lsp_root = {}
-  unlet! b:ale_lsp_root
+  let g:ale_root = {}
+  unlet! b:ale_root
 
   let g:linter = {}