Index: main/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/main/InstanceHelper.java
===================================================================
--- main/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/main/InstanceHelper.java	(revision 1404246)
+++ main/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/main/InstanceHelper.java	(working copy)
@@ -57,7 +57,14 @@
                 if (propertiesFile.exists()) {
                     FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(propertiesFile);
                     props.load(fis);
-                    int count = Integer.parseInt(props.getProperty("count"));
+                    int count = Integer.parseInt(props.getProperty("count"));                   
+                    
+                    // update root name if karaf.name got updated since the last container start
+                    String savedRootName = props.getProperty("item.0.name");
+                    if (savedRootName != null && isRoot && !savedRootName.equals(instanceName)) {
+                        props.setProperty("item.0.name", instanceName);
+                    }
+                    
                     for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
                         String name = props.getProperty("item." + i + ".name");
                         if (name.equals(instanceName)) {