diff --git a/memfs/memory.go b/memfs/memory.go
index 978fed1..2641238 100644
--- a/memfs/memory.go
+++ b/memfs/memory.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type Memory struct {
 // New returns a new Memory filesystem.
 func New() billy.Filesystem {
 	fs := &Memory{s: newStorage()}
+	fs.s.New("/", 0755|os.ModeDir, 0)
 	return chroot.New(fs, string(separator))
 }
 
diff --git a/memfs/memory_test.go b/memfs/memory_test.go
index 26f74ca..030c58a 100644
--- a/memfs/memory_test.go
+++ b/memfs/memory_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ func (s *MemorySuite) SetUpTest(c *C) {
 	s.FilesystemSuite = test.NewFilesystemSuite(New())
 }
 
+func (s *MemorySuite) TestRootExists(c *C) {
+	f, err := s.FS.Stat("/")
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	c.Assert(f.IsDir(), Equals, true)
+}
+
 func (s *MemorySuite) TestCapabilities(c *C) {
 	_, ok := s.FS.(billy.Capable)
 	c.Assert(ok, Equals, true)