diff --git a/persistence/lua_log_file.lua b/persistence/lua_log_file.lua
index 602e442..91776a2 100644
--- a/persistence/lua_log_file.lua
+++ b/persistence/lua_log_file.lua
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ function init(self)
 		return
 	end
 	self:open()
-	self.root = {}
 	self:_write()
 end
 
diff --git a/test.lua b/test.lua
index 945b97e..92902fb 100644
--- a/test.lua
+++ b/test.lua
@@ -345,8 +345,9 @@ assert(colorspec.from_string"#694269":to_string() == "694269")
 
 -- Persistence
 local function test_logfile(reference_strings)
-	local logfile = persistence.lua_log_file.new(mod.get_resource"logfile.test.lua", {}, reference_strings)
+	local logfile = persistence.lua_log_file.new(mod.get_resource"logfile.test.lua", {root_preserved = true}, reference_strings)
 	logfile:init()
+	assert(logfile.root.root_preserved)
 	logfile.root = {a_longer_string = "test"}
 	logfile:rewrite()
 	logfile:set_root({a = 1}, {b = 2, c = 3, d = _G.math.huge, e = -_G.math.huge})