diff --git a/pungi/checks.py b/pungi/checks.py
index 9c4c8a95..26749660 100644
--- a/pungi/checks.py
+++ b/pungi/checks.py
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ def make_schema():
             },
 
             "runroot": {
-                "deprecated": "remove it. Please specify 'runroot_tag' if you want to enable runroot, otherwise run things locally",
+                "deprecated": "remove it. Please specify 'runroot_method' if you want to enable runroot, otherwise run things locally",
             },
             "runroot_method": {
                 "type": "string",
diff --git a/pungi/phases/buildinstall.py b/pungi/phases/buildinstall.py
index 181acfdc..e8feea09 100644
--- a/pungi/phases/buildinstall.py
+++ b/pungi/phases/buildinstall.py
@@ -399,7 +399,6 @@ class BuildinstallThread(WorkerThread):
             self.worker(compose, arch, variant, cmd, num)
 
     def worker(self, compose, arch, variant, cmd, num):
-        runroot = compose.conf["runroot"]
         buildinstall_method = compose.conf["buildinstall_method"]
         log_filename = ('buildinstall-%s' % variant.uid) if variant else 'buildinstall'
         log_file = compose.paths.log.log_file(arch, log_filename)
diff --git a/pungi/runroot.py b/pungi/runroot.py
index 43687b75..6c29873e 100644
--- a/pungi/runroot.py
+++ b/pungi/runroot.py
@@ -37,20 +37,20 @@ class Runroot(kobo.log.LoggingBase):
 
     def get_runroot_method(self):
         """
-        Returns the runroot method by checking the `runroot` and
+        Returns the runroot method by checking the `runroot_tag` and
         `runroot_method` options in configuration.
 
-        :return: The "local" or "koji" string.
+        :return: The configured method
         """
-        runroot = self.compose.conf.get("runroot", None)
-        runroot_method = self.compose.conf.get("runroot_method", None)
-        if runroot is None and runroot_method is None:
-            raise ValueError("No runroot_method set.")
-        if runroot is False:
-            runroot_method = "local"
-        elif runroot and not runroot_method:
-            runroot_method = "koji"
-        return runroot_method
+        runroot_tag = self.compose.conf.get("runroot_tag")
+        runroot_method = self.compose.conf.get("runroot_method")
+        if runroot_tag and not runroot_method:
+            # If we have runroot tag and no method, let's assume koji method
+            # for backwards compatibility.
+            return "koji"
+        # Otherwise use the configured method or default to local if nothing is
+        # given.
+        return runroot_method or "local"
 
     def _run_local(self, command, log_file=None, **kwargs):
         """
diff --git a/tests/test_buildinstall.py b/tests/test_buildinstall.py
index 7d0103da..09f00743 100644
--- a/tests/test_buildinstall.py
+++ b/tests/test_buildinstall.py
@@ -568,7 +568,6 @@ class BuildinstallThreadTestCase(PungiTestCase):
     ):
         compose = BuildInstallCompose(self.topdir, {
             'buildinstall_method': 'lorax',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'rrt',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
             'runroot_weights': {'buildinstall': 123},
@@ -641,7 +640,6 @@ class BuildinstallThreadTestCase(PungiTestCase):
     ):
         compose = BuildInstallCompose(self.topdir, {
             'buildinstall_method': 'buildinstall',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'rrt',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
         })
@@ -709,7 +707,6 @@ class BuildinstallThreadTestCase(PungiTestCase):
     def test_buildinstall_fail_exit_code(self, run, get_buildroot_rpms, KojiWrapperMock):
         compose = BuildInstallCompose(self.topdir, {
             'buildinstall_method': 'buildinstall',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'rrt',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
             'failable_deliverables': [
@@ -744,7 +741,6 @@ class BuildinstallThreadTestCase(PungiTestCase):
     def test_lorax_fail_exit_code(self, run, get_buildroot_rpms, KojiWrapperMock):
         compose = BuildInstallCompose(self.topdir, {
             'buildinstall_method': 'lorax',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'rrt',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
             'failable_deliverables': [
@@ -778,7 +774,6 @@ class BuildinstallThreadTestCase(PungiTestCase):
     def test_skips_on_existing_output_dir(self, run, get_buildroot_rpms, KojiWrapperMock):
         compose = BuildInstallCompose(self.topdir, {
             'buildinstall_method': 'lorax',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'rrt',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
             'failable_deliverables': [
@@ -812,7 +807,6 @@ class BuildinstallThreadTestCase(PungiTestCase):
     ):
         compose = BuildInstallCompose(self.topdir, {
             'buildinstall_method': 'lorax',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'rrt',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
             'runroot_weights': {'buildinstall': 123},
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 4fbe6420..c9bf0a82 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class RunrootConfigTestCase(ConfigTestCase):
 
         self.assertValidation(
             cfg,
-            warnings=["WARNING: Config option runroot was removed and has no effect; remove it. Please specify 'runroot_tag' if you want to enable runroot, otherwise run things locally."])
+            warnings=["WARNING: Config option runroot was removed and has no effect; remove it. Please specify 'runroot_method' if you want to enable runroot, otherwise run things locally."])
 
     def test_set_runroot_false(self):
         cfg = load_config(
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ class RunrootConfigTestCase(ConfigTestCase):
 
         self.assertValidation(
             cfg,
-            warnings=["WARNING: Config option runroot was removed and has no effect; remove it. Please specify 'runroot_tag' if you want to enable runroot, otherwise run things locally."])
+            warnings=["WARNING: Config option runroot was removed and has no effect; remove it. Please specify 'runroot_method' if you want to enable runroot, otherwise run things locally."])
 
 
 class BuildinstallConfigTestCase(ConfigTestCase):
diff --git a/tests/test_createiso_phase.py b/tests/test_createiso_phase.py
index 8d4c4caf..d87a82c0 100644
--- a/tests/test_createiso_phase.py
+++ b/tests/test_createiso_phase.py
@@ -348,7 +348,6 @@ class CreateisoThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
         compose = helpers.DummyCompose(self.topdir, {
             'release_short': 'test',
             'release_version': '1.0',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'f25-build',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
         })
@@ -411,7 +410,6 @@ class CreateisoThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
         compose = helpers.DummyCompose(self.topdir, {
             'release_short': 'test',
             'release_version': '1.0',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'f25-build',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
             'create_jigdo': False,
@@ -475,7 +473,6 @@ class CreateisoThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
         compose = helpers.DummyCompose(self.topdir, {
             'release_short': 'test',
             'release_version': '1.0',
-            'runroot': True,
             'bootable': True,
             'buildinstall_method': 'lorax',
             'runroot_tag': 'f25-build',
@@ -542,7 +539,6 @@ class CreateisoThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
         compose = helpers.DummyCompose(self.topdir, {
             'release_short': 'test',
             'release_version': '1.0',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'f25-build',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
         })
@@ -572,7 +568,6 @@ class CreateisoThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
         compose = helpers.DummyCompose(self.topdir, {
             'release_short': 'test',
             'release_version': '1.0',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'f25-build',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
             'failable_deliverables': [
@@ -610,7 +605,6 @@ class CreateisoThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
         compose = helpers.DummyCompose(self.topdir, {
             'release_short': 'test',
             'release_version': '1.0',
-            'runroot': True,
             'runroot_tag': 'f25-build',
             'koji_profile': 'koji',
             'failable_deliverables': [
@@ -654,7 +648,6 @@ class CreateisoThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
         compose = helpers.DummyCompose(self.topdir, {
             'release_short': 'test',
             'release_version': '1.0',
-            'runroot': False,
         })
         cmd = {
             'iso_path': '%s/compose/Server/x86_64/iso/image-name' % self.topdir,
@@ -698,7 +691,6 @@ class CreateisoThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
         compose = helpers.DummyCompose(self.topdir, {
             'release_short': 'test',
             'release_version': '1.0',
-            'runroot': False,
             'failable_deliverables': [
                 ('^.*$', {'*': 'iso'})
             ]
diff --git a/tests/test_ostree_installer_phase.py b/tests/test_ostree_installer_phase.py
index 93857518..534f055d 100644
--- a/tests/test_ostree_installer_phase.py
+++ b/tests/test_ostree_installer_phase.py
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ class OstreeThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
             'translate_paths': [
                 (self.topdir + '/work', 'http://example.com/work')
             ],
-            'runroot': True,
         })
 
     def assertImageAdded(self, compose, ImageCls, iso):
diff --git a/tests/test_ostree_phase.py b/tests/test_ostree_phase.py
index 51cf2799..105938be 100644
--- a/tests/test_ostree_phase.py
+++ b/tests/test_ostree_phase.py
@@ -121,7 +121,6 @@ class OSTreeThreadTest(helpers.PungiTestCase):
             'translate_paths': [
                 (self.topdir, 'http://example.com')
             ],
-            'runroot': True
         })
         self.pool = mock.Mock()