Limine- Root partion decryption fails after latest update

Issues & Assistance
1

After the latest updates, which includes those package ( my suspects at least)

cachyos/limine                            11.4.0-2           11.4.1-1             0,00 MiB
cachyos/limine-mkinitcpio-hook            1.34.1-1           1.35.0-1             0,00 MiB

I am not able to enter my boot drive.

I can enter my passphrase after the limine boot screen. Then the system gets stuck for a while and I see the CachyOS logo coming up. After that I am thrown to the command line with this message

Cannot open access to console, the root account is locked.

IMG_0086
IMG_00861920×1440 401 KB

Rollback to a previous snapshot rescued me.

Does anybody have similar issues?

2

Update

I had some time to do a bit of testing. My suspects are not causing this issue. If I update my system and exclude limine and limine-mcpinitcpio-hook I still run into this issue. It happens for both kernels.

These are all the packages which get an update

Package (52)                              Old Version        New Version        Net Change  Download Size

cachyos-extra-znver4/alsa-card-profiles   1:1.6.3-1.1        1:1.6.4-1.1          0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/crun                 1.27-1.1           1.27.1-1.1          -0,03 MiB
extra/cups                                2:2.4.17-1         2:2.4.18-1           0,02 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/fd                   10.4.2-1.1         10.4.2-2.1          -0,43 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/firefox              149.0.2-1.1        150.0-1.1            1,16 MiB
cachyos/fish-pure-prompt                  4.16.0-1           4.17.0-1             0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/git                  2.53.0-1.1         2.54.0-1.1           0,60 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/gst-plugin-pipewire  1:1.6.3-1.1        1:1.6.4-1.1          0,00 MiB
cachyos/heroic-games-launcher-bin         2.20.1-1           2.21.0-1            16,30 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/imagemagick          7.1.2.19-1.1       7.1.2.21-1.1         0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/jemalloc             1:5.3.1-1.1        1:5.3.1-2.1         -1,65 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/jq                   1.8.1-2.1          1.8.1-3.1            0,01 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/js140                140.9.1-1.1        140.10.0-1.1        -0,03 MiB
multilib/lib32-harfbuzz                   14.1.0-1           14.2.0-1             0,00 MiB
multilib/lib32-libcups                    2.4.17-1           2.4.18-1             0,00 MiB
multilib/lib32-libpipewire                1:1.6.3-1          1:1.6.4-1            0,00 MiB
multilib/lib32-pipewire                   1:1.6.3-1          1:1.6.4-1            0,00 MiB
extra/libcups                             2:2.4.17-1         2:2.4.18-1           0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/libcupsfilters       2.1.1-4.2          2.1.1-4.3            0,00 MiB
extra/libimagequant                       4.4.1-1            4.4.1-2             -0,03 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/libphonenumber       1:9.0.28-1.1       1:9.0.29-1.1         0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/libpipewire          1:1.6.3-1.1        1:1.6.4-1.1          0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/libxpm               3.5.18-1.1         3.5.19-1.1           0,01 MiB
cachyos-znver4/linux-cachyos              7.0.0-1            7.0.1-1             -0,07 MiB     148,26 MiB
cachyos-znver4/linux-cachyos-headers      7.0.0-1            7.0.1-1             -2,00 MiB      31,80 MiB
cachyos-znver4/linux-cachyos-lts          6.18.22-1          6.18.24-1            0,04 MiB
cachyos-znver4/linux-cachyos-lts-headers  6.18.22-1          6.18.24-1            0,14 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/md4c                 0.5.2-2.1          0.5.3-1.1            0,00 MiB
cachyos/mesa                              2:26.0.5-2         2:26.0.5-4           0,00 MiB
cachyos/opencl-mesa                       2:26.0.5-2         2:26.0.5-4          -0,01 MiB
cachyos-core-znver4/openssl               3.6.2-1.1          3.6.2-2.1            0,03 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/openvpn              2.7.1-1.1          2.7.2-1.1            0,01 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/pipewire             1:1.6.3-1.1        1:1.6.4-1.1          0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/pipewire-alsa        1:1.6.3-1.1        1:1.6.4-1.1          0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/pipewire-audio       1:1.6.3-1.1        1:1.6.4-1.1          0,01 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/pipewire-pulse       1:1.6.3-1.1        1:1.6.4-1.1          0,00 MiB
cachyos/proton-cachyos-slr                1:10.0.20260408-1  1:10.0.20260409-1    0,00 MiB
extra/python-certifi                      2026.02.25-1       2026.04.22-1         0,00 MiB
extra/python-idna                         3.11-2             3.13-1              -0,34 MiB
extra/qt6-webengine                       6.11.0-4           6.11.0-5             0,01 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/snapper              0.13.0-3.1         0.13.1-1.1           0,13 MiB
core/systemd                              260.1-1            260.1-2              0,06 MiB
core/systemd-libs                         260.1-1            260.1-2              0,00 MiB
core/systemd-resolvconf                   260.1-1            260.1-2              0,00 MiB
core/systemd-sysvcompat                   260.1-1            260.1-2              0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/vim                  9.2.0357-1.1       9.2.0388-1.1         0,01 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/vim-runtime          9.2.0357-1.1       9.2.0388-1.1         0,00 MiB
cachyos/vulkan-mesa-implicit-layers       2:26.0.5-2         2:26.0.5-4           0,00 MiB
cachyos/vulkan-radeon                     2:26.0.5-2         2:26.0.5-4           0,00 MiB
cachyos-extra-znver4/wayland              1.24.0-1.1         1.25.0-1.1           0,02 MiB

Total Download Size:    180,06 MiB
Total Installed Size:  3672,96 MiB
Net Upgrade Size:        13,98 MiB
3

So if I just update the kernels the system is bricked

[2026-04-25T00:09:09+0200] [PACMAN] Running 'pacman --sync -- linux-cachyos linux-cachyos-headers linux-cachyos-lts linux-cachyos-lts-headers linux-api-headers'
[2026-04-25T00:09:13+0200] [ALPM] running '05-snap-pac-pre.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:15+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> root: 391
[2026-04-25T00:09:15+0200] [ALPM] running '10-limine-snapper-lock.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:16+0200] [ALPM] running '60-limine-mkinitcpio-remove-pre.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:16+0200] [ALPM] running '60-mkinitcpio-remove.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:16+0200] [ALPM] running 'traur.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:16+0200] [ALPM] transaction started
[2026-04-25T00:09:16+0200] [ALPM] upgraded linux-api-headers (1:6.18-1 -> 1:7.0-1)
[2026-04-25T00:09:17+0200] [ALPM] upgraded linux-cachyos (7.0.0-1 -> 7.0.1-1)
[2026-04-25T00:09:19+0200] [ALPM] upgraded linux-cachyos-headers (7.0.0-1 -> 7.0.1-1)
[2026-04-25T00:09:19+0200] [ALPM] upgraded linux-cachyos-lts (6.18.22-1 -> 6.18.24-1)
[2026-04-25T00:09:21+0200] [ALPM] upgraded linux-cachyos-lts-headers (6.18.22-1 -> 6.18.24-1)
[2026-04-25T00:09:21+0200] [ALPM] transaction completed
[2026-04-25T00:09:22+0200] [ALPM] running '35-systemd-update.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:22+0200] [ALPM] running '60-depmod.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:23+0200] [ALPM] running '90-limine-mkinitcpio-remove-post.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:23+0200] [ALPM] running '90-mkinitcpio-install.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:23+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] Building initramfs for linux-cachyos-lts (6.18.24-1-cachyos-lts)
[2026-04-25T00:09:23+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Using drop-in configuration file: '10-limine-snapper-sync.conf'
[2026-04-25T00:09:23+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Starting build: '6.18.24-1-cachyos-lts'
[2026-04-25T00:09:23+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [base]
[2026-04-25T00:09:23+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [systemd]
[2026-04-25T00:09:24+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [autodetect]
[2026-04-25T00:09:24+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [microcode]
[2026-04-25T00:09:24+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [kms]
[2026-04-25T00:09:26+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [modconf]
[2026-04-25T00:09:26+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [block]
[2026-04-25T00:09:26+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [keyboard]
[2026-04-25T00:09:26+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [sd-vconsole]
[2026-04-25T00:09:26+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [plymouth]
[2026-04-25T00:09:27+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [sd-encrypt]
[2026-04-25T00:09:27+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'qat_6xxx'
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [filesystems]
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [sd-btrfs-overlayfs]
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Generating module dependencies
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Creating zstd-compressed initcpio image: '/tmp/staging_initramfs.img'
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Early uncompressed CPIO image generation successful
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Initcpio image generation successful
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] Kernel stored in /boot/bd4ff4c3dce94db882861c7a3818d937/linux-cachyos-lts/vmlinuz-linux-cachyos-lts
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] Initramfs stored in /boot/bd4ff4c3dce94db882861c7a3818d937/linux-cachyos-lts/initramfs-linux-cachyos-lts
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] e[1;32mUpdated:e[0m /boot/limine.conf
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] Building initramfs for linux-cachyos (7.0.1-1-cachyos)
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Using drop-in configuration file: '10-limine-snapper-sync.conf'
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Starting build: '7.0.1-1-cachyos'
[2026-04-25T00:09:28+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [base]
[2026-04-25T00:09:29+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [systemd]
[2026-04-25T00:09:29+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [autodetect]
[2026-04-25T00:09:29+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [microcode]
[2026-04-25T00:09:29+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [kms]
[2026-04-25T00:09:31+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [modconf]
[2026-04-25T00:09:31+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [block]
[2026-04-25T00:09:31+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [keyboard]
[2026-04-25T00:09:31+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [sd-vconsole]
[2026-04-25T00:09:31+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [plymouth]
[2026-04-25T00:09:32+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [sd-encrypt]
[2026-04-25T00:09:32+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'qat_6xxx'
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [filesystems]
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Running build hook: [sd-btrfs-overlayfs]
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Generating module dependencies
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Creating zstd-compressed initcpio image: '/tmp/staging_initramfs.img'
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET]   -> Early uncompressed CPIO image generation successful
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> Initcpio image generation successful
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] Kernel stored in /boot/bd4ff4c3dce94db882861c7a3818d937/linux-cachyos/vmlinuz-linux-cachyos
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] Initramfs stored in /boot/bd4ff4c3dce94db882861c7a3818d937/linux-cachyos/initramfs-linux-cachyos
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] e[1;32mUpdated:e[0m /boot/limine.conf
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM] running 'cachyos-reboot-required.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:33+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> INFO: Reboot is recommended due to the upgrade of core system package(s).
[2026-04-25T00:09:34+0200] [ALPM] running 'rebuild-detector.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:34+0200] [ALPM] running 'zz-snap-pac-post.hook'...
[2026-04-25T00:09:36+0200] [ALPM-SCRIPTLET] ==> root: 392
4

I had a typo in my /etc/default/limine settings which made root=/dev/mapper/lurks... pointed to a void location.

Note to myself: create a backup before messing with parameters in this file.