Failed to rebuild initramfs using dracut

Issues & Assistance
1

Hello!

How do I fix this — CRITICAL —

  • Pacman hooks report that the initramfs build has failed. System may not boot. ?

I have checked out some recent post but cannot find a solution.

I tried

garuda-update – garuda-dracut-support dracut

This installed two new packages - but made no difference.

Thanks.

garuda-health --fix
--- System Health Check Report ---
22/23 checks run in 1.41 seconds ⌛
Powered by garuda-health 🦅

--- CRITICAL ---
 - Pacman hooks report that the initramfs build has failed. System may not boot. (fix available)

--- LOW ---
 - Failed systemd services found: nmb.service

--- INFO ---
 - A reboot is pending (update applied since last reboot)

Run garuda-health --fix to apply fixes.

--- Applying Fixes ---
Fixing "Pacman hooks report that the initramfs build has failed. System may not boot.": 
The following command will be executed:
  sudo dracut-rebuild
Continue? [y/N]: 

Continue? [y/N]: y
[sudo] password for anarcho:         
:: Rebuilding all initramfs due to changes in dracut files.
:: Building initramfs for linux-zen (6.16.3-zen1-1-zen)
dracut[E]: Module 'nvidia' cannot be found.
Failed to build initramfs for linux-zen (6.16.3-zen1-1-zen)
Failed to rebuild initramfs using dracut. Exit code: 1

--- Re-running checks after applying fixes ---
--- System Health Check Report ---
22/23 checks run in 1.42 seconds ⌛
Powered by garuda-health 🦅

--- CRITICAL ---
 - Pacman hooks report that the initramfs build has failed. System may not boot. (fix available)

--- LOW ---
 - Failed systemd services found: nmb.service

--- INFO ---
 - A reboot is pending (update applied since last reboot)

Run garuda-health --fix to apply fixes.

garuda-inxi
System:
  Kernel: 6.16.0-zen2-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
    root=UUID=cfe58ff1-10f6-4a0f-bf00-e7c82f3b3a89 rw rootflags=subvol=@
    quiet resume=UUID=804a5b91-748b-4e0e-9b50-cd4994cf4a32 loglevel=3
    snd_hda_intel.dmic_detect=0 ibt=off
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.4.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.17.0
    wm: kwin_x11 vt: 2 dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Dell product: Precision 5520 v: N/A
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Dell model: 0R6JFH v: A00 serial: <superuser required> part-nu: 07BF
    uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: Dell v: 1.40.0 date: 09/03/2024
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 62.4 Wh (100.0%) condition: 62.4/97.1 Wh (64.3%)
    volts: 12.5 min: 11.8 model: LGC-LGC8.33 DELL 5XJ28 type: Li-ion
    serial: <filter> status: full
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i7-7820HQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake
    gen: core 7 level: v3 note: check built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6
    model-id: 0x9E (158) stepping: 9 microcode: 0xF8
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 4 cores: 4 threads: 8 tpc: 2
    smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB
    desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 8 MiB desc: 1x8 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1100 min/max: 800/3900 scaling: driver: intel_pstate
    governor: powersave cores: 1: 1100 2: 1100 3: 1100 4: 1100 5: 1100 6: 1100
    7: 1100 8: 1100 bogomips: 46398
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 630 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel
    arch: Gen-9.5 process: Intel 14nm built: 2016-20 ports: active: eDP-1
    empty: DP-1, DP-2, HDMI-A-1, HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:591b
    class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA GM107GLM [Quadro M1200 Mobile] vendor: Dell
    driver: nvidia v: 580.76.05 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm
    non-free: 550-570.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-04; EOL~2026-12-xx)
    arch: Maxwell code: GMxxx process: TSMC 28nm built: 2014-2019 pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.0
    chip-ID: 10de:13b6 class-ID: 0302
  Device-3: Microdia Integrated_Webcam_HD driver: uvcvideo type: USB
    rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-12:3
    chip-ID: 0c45:6713 class-ID: 0e02
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.18 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.8
    compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: nouveau
    alternate: fbdev,intel,nv,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0
    screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22")
    s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 model: Sharp 0x1453 built: 2015 res: mode: 1920x1080
    hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 141 gamma: 1.2 size: 346x194mm (13.62x7.64")
    diag: 397mm (15.6") ratio: 16:9 modes: 1920x1080
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel iris drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0
    drv: nvidia device: 1 drv: iris device: 3 drv: swrast gbm: drv: iris
    surfaceless: drv: nvidia x11: drv: iris inactive: wayland,device-2
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: intel mesa v: 25.2.1-arch1.2
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 630 (KBL GT2)
    device-ID: 8086:591b memory: 30.34 GiB unified: yes
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.321 layers: 7 device: 0 type: integrated-gpu name: Intel
    HD Graphics 630 (KBL GT2) driver: mesa intel v: 25.2.1-arch1.2
    device-ID: 8086:591b surfaces: N/A device: 1 type: discrete-gpu
    name: Quadro M1200 driver: nvidia v: 580.76.05 device-ID: 10de:13b6
    surfaces: N/A device: 2 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.8 256 bits)
    driver: mesa llvmpipe v: 25.2.1-arch1.2 (LLVM 20.1.8)
    device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: N/A
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: nvidia-settings,nvidia-smi
    wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel CM238 HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a171 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.16.0-zen2-1-zen status: kernel-api
    tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.4.7 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless 7260 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:08b2 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: wg0-mullvad state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
  Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, sshd, systemd-timesyncd,
    wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Bluetooth wireless interface driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB
    rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-4:2 chip-ID: 8087:07dc
    class-ID: e001
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 2 state: up address: N/A
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 1.86 TiB used: 1.44 TiB (77.5%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: A-Data model: SX8200PNP
    size: 1.86 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 42AZS6AC temp: 34.9 C
    scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 1.83 TiB size: 1.83 TiB (100.00%) used: 1.44 TiB (78.9%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 20.1 MiB (6.7%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 1.83 TiB size: 1.83 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 1.44 TiB (78.9%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 1.83 TiB size: 1.83 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 1.44 TiB (78.9%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 1.83 TiB size: 1.83 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 1.44 TiB (78.9%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 31.07 GiB used: 16.5 MiB (0.1%)
    priority: 100 comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842
    dev: /dev/zram0
  ID-2: swap-2 type: partition size: 34.18 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
    priority: -2 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 57.0 C pch: 47.5 C mobo: 49.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): cpu: 2525 fan-2: 2514
Info:
  Memory: total: 32 GiB note: est. available: 31.07 GiB used: 9.84 GiB (31.7%)
  Processes: 356 Power: uptime: 2h 43m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 12.34 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
    power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
    tool: systemctl
  Packages: 2165 pm: pacman pkgs: 2150 libs: 483 tools: octopi,paru
    pm: flatpak pkgs: 15 Compilers: clang: 20.1.8 gcc: 15.2.1 Shell: Bash
    v: 5.3.3 default: fish v: 4.0.2 running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.38
Garuda (2.8.2-2):
  System install date:     2024-05-31
  Last full system update: 2025-08-25 ↻
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-dkms
  Windows dual boot:       No/Undetected
  Failed units:            nmb.service 
--- System Health Check Report ---
22/23 checks run in 1.49 seconds ⌛
Powered by garuda-health 🦅

--- CRITICAL ---
 - Pacman hooks report that the initramfs build has failed. System may not boot. (fix available)

--- LOW ---
 - Failed systemd services found: nmb.service

--- INFO ---
 - A reboot is pending (update applied since last reboot)

Run garuda-health --fix to apply fixes.
2

Pls fix first your garuda-inxi with 3x ~ not only with 1x (beginning + end)

3

Ok. Is that better now?

4

Sorry, no it isn’t fixed

  • Format terminal output (including your garuda-inxi) as a code block by clicking the preformatted text button (</>), or put three tildes (~) above and below the text

2025-08-25_20-53
2025-08-25_20-53818×469 56.9 KB

5

Well, 3 tildas did not work then!

I have now used the button - but surely that does not look right! ?

6

Press the markdown editor mode icon again (upper left corner)
Looks now good :+1:

Pls read this topic.

If this is your issue, then you must solve this self.

1 Like
7

@Anarchotaoist, does the file /usr/share/libalpm/hooks/90-dracut-install.hook exist on your system?

8

Yes, I read that thread looking for a solution but that linked command did not solve the error.

9

Yes - present!

10

Not the issue :+1:
I hope you don’t have a update done without reboot and then command garuda-health --fix
or garuda-update – garuda-dracut-support dracut
If yes → reboot but take a look before if the nvidia modul exist in the new kernel folder.
/usr/lib/modules/6.16.3-zen1-1-zen

11

Thanks for the report.

Please show the full output of this command:

bash -c "cat /etc/dracut.conf.d/*"
12

bash -c “cat /etc/dracut.conf.d/*”
add_dracutmodules+=" nvidia "
add_drivers+=" nvidia "

13

Have I had an update that required a reboot, which I did not do, then did another update?? - No
I started the laptop up this morning and updated - and got this error!

This exists.

14

You will need to delete the file that sets these incorrect values and instead add this:

force_drivers+=" nvidia nvidia_modeset nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm "

OR alternatively, you could also remove the file. Early KMS is not necessary for your system to function in most cases.

Afterwards, run garuda-health --fix and the check should come back clean this time.

15

So in the 99-nvidia.conf file in /etc/dracut.conf.d/ I need to delete both

and add

in instead?
Correct?

Or does

need to be added to a different file?

16

Yes.

I assume you created this file to permit early KMS. This is not necessary in most cases though, but if you would still like to have early KMS, you should add the force_drivers line from my previous post.

17

Ok!
I do not recall adding that file at all! I do not know what KMS is either!
I will add

to it!

1 Like
18

Afterward, when you run garuda-health --fix you should be in the clear.

Once the check comes back clear, please mark Failed to rebuild initramfs using dracut - #14 by TNE as the solution so others will know what to do if they encounter the same issue and stumble into here through Google.

19

Success?


\--- Applying Fixes --- 
Fixing "Pacman hooks report that the initramfs build has failed. System may not boot.":  
The following command will be executed: 
  sudo dracut-rebuild 
Continue? \[y/N\]: y 
\[sudo\] password for anarcho:          
:: Rebuilding all initramfs due to changes in dracut files. 
:: Building initramfs for linux-zen (6.16.3-zen1-1-zen) 
:: Building fallback initramfs for linux-zen (6.16.3-zen1-1-zen) 
Initramfs rebuilt successfully using dracut. 

--- Re-running checks after applying fixes --- 
--- System Health Check Report --- 
22/23 checks run in 1.48 seconds ⌛  
Powered by garuda-health 🦅e 

--- LOW --- 
 - Failed systemd services found: nmb.service 

--- INFO --- 
 - A reboot is pending (update applied since last reboot)
20

The check clears, looks good to me.

1 Like