@@ -301,6 +301,10 @@ func configToRootFS(c []byte) (*image.RootFS, error) {

 	if err := json.Unmarshal(c, &pluginConfig); err != nil {

 		return nil, err

 	}

+	// validation for empty rootfs is in distribution code

+	if pluginConfig.Rootfs == nil {

+		return nil, nil

+	}

 	return rootFSFromPlugin(pluginConfig.Rootfs), nil

 }