diff --git a/init_buildsystem b/init_buildsystem
index a7c4cd7c7..703079d31 100755
--- a/init_buildsystem
+++ b/init_buildsystem
@@ -275,7 +275,12 @@ init_db()
 	echo initializing rpm db...
         if ! test -e $BUILD_ROOT/usr/lib/rpm/cpuinfo.yaml; then
             # rpm v5 does not have initdb
- 	    chroot $BUILD_ROOT rpm --initdb || cleanup_and_exit 1
+            # rpmdb --initdb is recommended and exists since SL9
+            if [ -x $BUILD_ROOT/usr/bin/rpmdb ]; then
+   	      chroot $BUILD_ROOT /usr/bin/rpmdb --initdb || cleanup_and_exit 1
+            else
+ 	      chroot $BUILD_ROOT rpm --initdb || cleanup_and_exit 1
+            fi
         fi
 	# hack: add nofsync to db config to speed up install
 	mkdir -p $BUILD_ROOT/root
@@ -1415,7 +1420,11 @@ fi
 
 if test -x $BUILD_ROOT/bin/rpm -a ! -f $BUILD_ROOT/var/lib/rpm/packages.rpm -a ! -f $BUILD_ROOT/var/lib/rpm/Packages ; then
     echo "initializing rpm db..."
-    chroot $BUILD_ROOT rpm --initdb || cleanup_and_exit 1
+    if [ -x $BUILD_ROOT/usr/bin/rpmdb ]; then
+      chroot $BUILD_ROOT /usr/bin/rpmdb --initdb || cleanup_and_exit 1
+    else
+      chroot $BUILD_ROOT rpm --initdb || cleanup_and_exit 1
+    fi
     # create provides index
     chroot $BUILD_ROOT rpm -q --whatprovides rpm >/dev/null 2>&1
 fi