diff --git a/policy/modules/system/init.te b/policy/modules/system/init.te
index a729ea16..8a0fdeb4 100644
--- a/policy/modules/system/init.te
+++ b/policy/modules/system/init.te
@@ -437,6 +437,9 @@ ifdef(`distro_gentoo',`
 	dev_create_generic_dirs(initrc_t)
 	dev_delete_generic_dirs(initrc_t)
 
+	# allow bootmisc to create /var/lock/.keep.
+	files_manage_generic_locks(initrc_t)
+
 	# openrc uses tmpfs for its state data
 	fs_tmpfs_filetrans(initrc_t, initrc_state_t, { dir file fifo_file lnk_file })