diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/r/root.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/r/root.py
index 3645d1fcc7..ddaed5761d 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/r/root.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/r/root.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 from easybuild.framework.easyconfig import CUSTOM
 from easybuild.easyblocks.generic.cmakemake import CMakeMake
 from easybuild.tools.build_log import EasyBuildError
+from easybuild.tools.config import build_option
 from easybuild.tools.environment import setvar
 from easybuild.tools.filetools import find_glob_pattern
 from easybuild.tools.modules import get_software_root, get_software_version
@@ -104,6 +105,10 @@ def configure_step(self):
             if get_software_root('X11'):
                 self.cfg.update('configopts', '-Dx11=ON')
 
+            sysroot = build_option('sysroot')
+            if sysroot:
+                self.cfg.update('configopts', '-DDEFAULT_SYSROOT=%s' % sysroot)
+
             CMakeMake.configure_step(self)
         else:
             if self.cfg['arch'] is None: