diff --git a/xbps-src b/xbps-src
index 8e0a5a1557..6526907958 100755
--- a/xbps-src
+++ b/xbps-src
@@ -696,7 +696,11 @@ case "$XBPS_TARGET" in
         install_bbootstrap bootstrap
         ;;
     bootstrap-update)
-        bootstrap_update
+        if [ -n "$CHROOT_READY" -a -z "$IN_CHROOT" ]; then
+            chroot_handler bootstrap-update
+        else
+            bootstrap_update
+        fi
         ;;
     chroot)
         chroot_handler chroot dummy