diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6b14d43aa..8f0f4751b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 - Return an error during `wwctl container import` if archive filename includes a colon. #1371
 - Correctly extract smbios asset key during Grub boot. #1291
+- Refactor of `wwinit/init` to more properly address rootfs options. #1098
 
 ## v4.5.7, 2024-09-11
 
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTORS.md b/CONTRIBUTORS.md
index b804d8182..86c40763e 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTORS.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTORS.md
@@ -38,3 +38,4 @@
 * Tobias Poschwatta <poschwatta@zib.de>
 * Josh Burks <jeburks2@asu.edu>
 * Elmar Pruesse <pruessee@njhealth.org> @epruesse
+* Adam Michel <elfurbe@furbism.com> [@elfurbe](https://github.com/elfurbe)
diff --git a/overlays/wwinit/rootfs/init b/overlays/wwinit/rootfs/init
index fadc0a914..45620263e 100755
--- a/overlays/wwinit/rootfs/init
+++ b/overlays/wwinit/rootfs/init
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # Edit at your own risk! DANGER DANGER.
 
 
-if test -f "/warewulf/config"; then
+if [ -f "/warewulf/config" ]; then
     . /warewulf/config
 else
     echo "ERROR: Warewulf configuration file not found... rebooting in 1 minute"
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ else
     echo b > /proc/sysrq-trigger || /sbin/reboot
 fi
 
-echo "Warewulf v4 is now booting: $WWHOSTNAME"
+echo "Warewulf v4 is now booting: ${WWHOSTNAME}"
 echo
 
 echo "Mounting up kernel file systems"
@@ -26,31 +26,38 @@ mount -t tmpfs tmpfs /run
 
 chmod 755 /warewulf/wwinit
 
-echo "Checking Rootfs type"
+echo -n "Checking Rootfs type..."
 ROOTFSTYPE=`stat -f -c "%T" /`
+echo "${ROOTFSTYPE}"
 
-if test "$WWROOT" = "initramfs"; then
-    echo "Provisioned to default initramfs file system: $ROOTFSTYPE"
-    echo "Calling WW Init"
-    exec /warewulf/wwinit
-elif test "$WWROOT" = "tmpfs"; then
-    if test "$ROOTFSTYPE" = "tmpfs"; then
-        echo "ERROR: Switching the root file system requires the kernel argument: 'rootfstype=ramfs'"
-    else
-        echo "Setting up tmpfs root file system"
+
+if [ -n "${WWROOT}" ] && [ "${WWROOT}" != "${ROOTFSTYPE}" ]; then
+    echo "Requested rootfs type does not match current rootfs type. Pivoting to new rootfs..."
+    if [ "${WWROOT}" == "ramfs" ] || [ "${WWROOT}" == "tmpfs" ]; then
         mkdir /newroot
-        mount wwroot /newroot -t tmpfs -o mpol=interleave
-        echo "Moving RAMFS to TMPFS"
-        tar -cf - --exclude ./proc --exclude ./sys --exclude ./dev --exclude ./newroot . | tar -xf - -C /newroot
+        mount wwroot /newroot -t ${WWROOT} -o mpol=interleave
+        tar cf - --exclude ./proc --exclude ./sys --exclude ./dev --exclude ./run --exclude ./newroot . | tar xf - -C /newroot
         mkdir /newroot/proc /newroot/dev /newroot/sys /newroot/run 2>/dev/null
-        echo "Calling switch_root and invoking WW Init"
+        echo "Switching to new rootfs and invoking /warewulf/wwinit..."
         exec /sbin/switch_root /newroot /warewulf/wwinit
+    elif [ "${WWROOT}" == "initramfs" ]; then
+        echo ">>> Deprecated option \"initramfs\" chosen."
+        echo ">>> The 'initramfs' can be either a ramfs or a tmpfs natively, depending on kernel configuration."
+        echo ">>> If you wish to use whatever this kernel chooses by default, remove the 'root' setting from your nodes/profiles."
+        echo "Invoking /warewulf/wwinit..."
+        exec /warewulf/wwinit
+    else
+        echo "Unrecognized rootfs type requested: ${WWROOT}"
+        echo "Rebooting in 1 minute..."
+        sleep 60
+        /sbin/reboot -f
     fi
 else
-    echo "ERROR: Unknown Warewulf Root file system: $WWROOT"
+    echo "Invoking /warewulf/wwinit..."
+    exec /warewulf/wwinit
 fi
 
 echo
-echo "There was a problem with the provisioning process, rebooting in 1 minute..."
+echo "There was a problem with the initial provisioning process, rebooting in 1 minute..."
 sleep 60
-echo b > /proc/sysrq-trigger || /sbin/reboot
+echo b > /proc/sysrq-trigger || /sbin/reboot -f