diff --git a/usr/gen_init_cpio.c b/usr/gen_init_cpio.c
index 8365db6cfe0..7abc07f0fcd 100644
--- a/usr/gen_init_cpio.c
+++ b/usr/gen_init_cpio.c
@@ -498,7 +498,9 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
-	if (! (cpio_list = fopen(argv[1], "r"))) {
+	if (!strcmp(argv[1], "-"))
+		cpio_list = stdin;
+	else if (! (cpio_list = fopen(argv[1], "r"))) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: unable to open '%s': %s\n\n",
 			argv[1], strerror(errno));
 		usage(argv[0]);