diff --git a/image_properties_chromeos.cc b/image_properties_chromeos.cc
index 8999d6a..ab689f5 100644
--- a/image_properties_chromeos.cc
+++ b/image_properties_chromeos.cc
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@
   lsb_release.SetBoolean(kLsbReleaseIsPowerwashAllowedKey,
                          properties.is_powerwash_allowed);
 
-  base::FilePath path(std::string(root_prefix) + kStatefulPartition +
-                      kLsbRelease);
+  std::string root_prefix_str = root_prefix ? root_prefix : "";
+  base::FilePath path(root_prefix_str + kStatefulPartition + kLsbRelease);
   if (!base::DirectoryExists(path.DirName()))
     base::CreateDirectory(path.DirName());
   return lsb_release.Save(path);
diff --git a/real_system_state.cc b/real_system_state.cc
index cf904c2..8efb903 100644
--- a/real_system_state.cc
+++ b/real_system_state.cc
@@ -102,6 +102,15 @@
     system_rebooted_ = true;
   }
 
+  // Initialize the OmahaRequestParams with the default settings. These settings
+  // will be re-initialized before every request using the actual request
+  // options. This initialization here pre-loads current channel and version, so
+  // the DBus service can access it.
+  if (!request_params_.Init("", "", false)) {
+    LOG(WARNING) << "Ignoring OmahaRequestParams initialization error. Some "
+                    "features might not work properly.";
+  }
+
   // Initialize the Update Manager using the default state factory.
   chromeos_update_manager::State* um_state =
       chromeos_update_manager::DefaultStateFactory(