diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/routing.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/routing.rb
index 2fe74c5b34a6c..31e786cdfd6e6 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/routing.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/routing.rb
@@ -979,6 +979,14 @@ def named_route(name, path, options = {})
           @set.add_named_route(name, path, options)
         end
 
+        # Added deprecation notice for anyone who already added a named route called "root".
+        # It'll be used as a shortcut for map.connect '' in Rails 2.0.
+        def root(*args, &proc)
+          super unless args.length >= 1 && proc.nil?
+          @set.add_named_route("root", *args)
+        end
+        deprecate :root => "(as the the label for a named route) will become a shortcut for map.connect '', so find another name"
+
         def method_missing(route_name, *args, &proc)
           super unless args.length >= 1 && proc.nil?
           @set.add_named_route(route_name, *args)
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/routing_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/routing_test.rb
index 18fcef5bc5172..9a41440e78c06 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/routing_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/routing_test.rb
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ def test_url_with_no_action_specified
 
   def test_named_url_with_no_action_specified
     rs.draw do |map|
-      map.root '', :controller => 'content'
+      map.home '', :controller => 'content'
       map.connect ':controller/:action/:id'
     end
     
@@ -384,14 +384,14 @@ def test_named_url_with_no_action_specified
     assert_equal '/', rs.generate(:controller => 'content')
     
     x = setup_for_named_route.new
-    assert_equal({:controller => 'content', :action => 'index', :use_route => :root, :only_path => false},
-                 x.send(:root_url))
+    assert_equal({:controller => 'content', :action => 'index', :use_route => :home, :only_path => false},
+                 x.send(:home_url))
   end
   
   def test_url_generated_when_forgetting_action
     [{:controller => 'content', :action => 'index'}, {:controller => 'content'}].each do |hash| 
       rs.draw do |map|
-        map.root '', hash
+        map.home '', hash
         map.connect ':controller/:action/:id'
       end
       assert_equal '/', rs.generate({:action => nil}, {:controller => 'content', :action => 'hello'})
@@ -1582,6 +1582,18 @@ def test_recognize_with_conditions_and_format
     Object.send(:remove_const, :PeopleController)
   end
 
+  def test_deprecation_warning_for_root_route
+    Object.const_set(:PeopleController, Class.new)
+
+    set.draw do |map|
+      assert_deprecated do
+        map.root('', :controller => "people")
+      end    
+    end
+  ensure
+    Object.send(:remove_const, :PeopleController)
+  end
+
   def test_generate_with_default_action
     set.draw do |map|
       map.connect "/people", :controller => "people"
diff --git a/railties/CHANGELOG b/railties/CHANGELOG
index 8f5e9812ed645..09178b101873a 100644
--- a/railties/CHANGELOG
+++ b/railties/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 *SVN*
 
+* Deprecated the name route "root" as it'll be used as a shortcut for map.connect '' in Rails 2.0 [DHH]
+
 * Fixed that script/server running against Mongrel should tail the proper log regardless of the environment [DHH]
 
 * Update initializer to load Rails::VERSION as soon as possible. Closes #6698. [Nicholas Seckar]