diff --git a/ceph_deploy/lsb.py b/ceph_deploy/lsb.py
index b7f3e73..2f608de 100644
--- a/ceph_deploy/lsb.py
+++ b/ceph_deploy/lsb.py
@@ -118,4 +118,6 @@ def choose_init(distro, codename):
     """
     if distro == 'Ubuntu':
         return 'upstart'
+    elif  distro == 'unknown':
+        return 'direct'
     return 'sysvinit'