diff --git a/types/options.go b/types/options.go
index 34252dd630..5c55b28a1d 100644
--- a/types/options.go
+++ b/types/options.go
@@ -152,14 +152,18 @@ func defaultStoreOptionsIsolated(rootless bool, rootlessUID int, storageConf str
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if storageOpts.RunRoot != "" {
+	if storageOpts.RunRoot == "" {
+		return storageOpts, fmt.Errorf("runroot must be set")
+	} else {
 		runRoot, err := expandEnvPath(storageOpts.RunRoot, rootlessUID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return storageOpts, err
 		}
 		storageOpts.RunRoot = runRoot
 	}
-	if storageOpts.GraphRoot != "" {
+	if storageOpts.GraphRoot == "" {
+		return storageOpts, fmt.Errorf("graphroot must be set")
+	} else {
 		graphRoot, err := expandEnvPath(storageOpts.GraphRoot, rootlessUID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return storageOpts, err