diff --git a/refpolicy/Changelog b/refpolicy/Changelog
index 9c1d91f8..463d1abf 100644
--- a/refpolicy/Changelog
+++ b/refpolicy/Changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+- DISTRO=redhat now implies DIRECT_INITRC=y.
+
 * Wed Oct 19 2005 Chris PeBenito <selinux@tresys.com> - 20051019
 - Many fixes to make loadable modules build.
 - Add targets for sechecker.
diff --git a/refpolicy/Makefile b/refpolicy/Makefile
index d01f7396..bd60810c 100644
--- a/refpolicy/Makefile
+++ b/refpolicy/Makefile
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ NAME = refpolicy
 # run init scripts, instead of requring run_init.
 # This is a build option, as role transitions do
 # not work in conditional policy.
+# This option will be impled as y for redhat policies.
 DIRECT_INITRC=n
 
 # Build monolithic policy.  Putting n here
@@ -141,6 +142,9 @@ endif
 # enable distribution-specific policy
 ifneq ($(DISTRO),)
 	override M4PARAM += -D distro_$(DISTRO)
+ifeq ($(DISTRO),redhat)
+	override DIRECT_INITRC := y
+endif
 endif
 
 ifneq ($(OUTPUT_POLICY),)