Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/osgi/OsgiRepositoryInitializer.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/osgi/OsgiRepositoryInitializer.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/osgi/OsgiRepositoryInitializer.java	(working copy)
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@
  */
 package org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.osgi;
 
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.CompositeInitializer;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.RepositoryInitializer;
-import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStore;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeState;
 import org.osgi.framework.ServiceReference;
 
 /**
@@ -31,35 +32,33 @@
         extends AbstractServiceTracker<RepositoryInitializer>
         implements RepositoryInitializer {
 
-    /**
-     * The reference to the micro kernel once available.
-     */
-    private volatile NodeStore store;
+    private RepositoryInitializerObserver observer;
 
     public OsgiRepositoryInitializer() {
         super(RepositoryInitializer.class);
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void initialize(NodeStore store) {
-        this.store = store;
-        if (store != null) {
-            for (RepositoryInitializer mki : getServices()) {
-                mki.initialize(store);
-            }
-        }
+    public NodeState initialize(NodeState state) {
+        return new CompositeInitializer(getServices()).initialize(state);
     }
 
     @Override
     public Object addingService(ServiceReference reference) {
-        RepositoryInitializer mki =
-                (RepositoryInitializer) super.addingService(reference);
-        NodeStore store = this.store;
-        if (store != null) {
-            //TODO index added content
-            mki.initialize(store);
+        RepositoryInitializer ri = (RepositoryInitializer) super
+                .addingService(reference);
+        if (observer != null) {
+            observer.newRepositoryInitializer(ri);
         }
-        return mki;
+        return ri;
+    }
+
+    public void setObserver(RepositoryInitializerObserver observer) {
+        this.observer = observer;
+    }
+
+    interface RepositoryInitializerObserver {
+        void newRepositoryInitializer(RepositoryInitializer ri);
     }
 
 }
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/osgi/Activator.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/osgi/Activator.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/osgi/Activator.java	(working copy)
@@ -16,18 +16,23 @@
  */
 package org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.osgi;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Properties;
 
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.mk.api.MicroKernel;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.Oak;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.ContentRepository;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.core.ContentRepositoryImpl;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.kernel.KernelNodeStore;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.osgi.OsgiRepositoryInitializer.RepositoryInitializerObserver;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.nodetype.DefaultTypeEditor;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.commit.CompositeHook;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.commit.ValidatingHook;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.OakInitializer;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.RepositoryInitializer;
 import org.osgi.framework.BundleActivator;
 import org.osgi.framework.BundleContext;
 import org.osgi.framework.ServiceReference;
@@ -35,7 +40,7 @@
 import org.osgi.util.tracker.ServiceTracker;
 import org.osgi.util.tracker.ServiceTrackerCustomizer;
 
-public class Activator implements BundleActivator, ServiceTrackerCustomizer {
+public class Activator implements BundleActivator, ServiceTrackerCustomizer, RepositoryInitializerObserver {
 
     private BundleContext context;
 
@@ -47,7 +52,7 @@
 
     private final OsgiValidatorProvider validatorProvider = new OsgiValidatorProvider();
 
-    private final OsgiRepositoryInitializer kernelTracker = new OsgiRepositoryInitializer();
+    private final OsgiRepositoryInitializer repositoryInitializerTracker = new OsgiRepositoryInitializer();
 
     private final Map<ServiceReference, ServiceRegistration> services =
             new HashMap<ServiceReference, ServiceRegistration>();
@@ -61,8 +66,8 @@
         indexProvider.start(bundleContext);
         indexHookProvider.start(bundleContext);
         validatorProvider.start(bundleContext);
-        kernelTracker.start(bundleContext);
-
+        repositoryInitializerTracker.setObserver(this);
+        repositoryInitializerTracker.start(bundleContext);
         tracker = new ServiceTracker(
                 context, MicroKernel.class.getName(), this);
         tracker.open();
@@ -71,22 +76,19 @@
     @Override
     public void stop(BundleContext bundleContext) throws Exception {
         tracker.close();
-
         indexProvider.stop();
         indexHookProvider.stop();
         validatorProvider.stop();
-        kernelTracker.stop();
+        repositoryInitializerTracker.stop();
     }
 
     //-------------------------------------------< ServiceTrackerCustomizer >---
 
     @Override
     public Object addingService(ServiceReference reference) {
-        Object service = context.getService(reference);
-        if (service instanceof MicroKernel) {
-            MicroKernel kernel = (MicroKernel) service;
-            OakInitializer.initialize(new KernelNodeStore(kernel),
-                    kernelTracker, indexHookProvider);
+        MicroKernel kernel = (MicroKernel) context.getService(reference);
+        OakInitializer.initialize(new KernelNodeStore(kernel),
+                repositoryInitializerTracker, indexHookProvider);
             Oak oak = new Oak(kernel)
                     .with(new CompositeHook(
                         // TODO: DefaultTypeEditor is JCR specific and does not belong here
@@ -98,11 +100,7 @@
                     ContentRepository.class.getName(),
                     oak.createContentRepository(),
                     new Properties()));
-            return service;
-        } else {
-            context.ungetService(reference);
-            return null;
-        }
+            return kernel;
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -112,9 +110,24 @@
 
     @Override
     public void removedService(ServiceReference reference, Object service) {
-        ServiceRegistration registration = services.remove(reference);
-        registration.unregister();
+        services.remove(reference).unregister();
         context.ungetService(reference);
     }
 
+    //----------------------------------------< RepositoryInitializerObserver >---
+
+    @Override
+    public void newRepositoryInitializer(RepositoryInitializer ri) {
+        List<ServiceReference> mkRefs = new ArrayList<ServiceReference>(
+                services.keySet());
+        for (ServiceReference ref : mkRefs) {
+            Object service = context.getService(ref);
+            if (service instanceof ContentRepositoryImpl) {
+                ContentRepositoryImpl repository = (ContentRepositoryImpl) service;
+                OakInitializer.initialize(repository.getNodeStore(), ri,
+                        indexHookProvider);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
 }
Index: oak-core/src/test/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/nodetype/NodeTypeIndexTest.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/test/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/nodetype/NodeTypeIndexTest.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/test/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/nodetype/NodeTypeIndexTest.java	(working copy)
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Set;
 
@@ -27,10 +28,13 @@
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.Blob;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.Type;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.kernel.KernelNodeStore;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.index.CompositeIndexHookProvider;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.index.IndexHookManager;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.index.IndexHookProvider;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.index.p2.Property2IndexHookProvider;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.nodetype.write.InitialContent;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.query.index.FilterImpl;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.OakInitializer;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.query.Cursor;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.query.Cursors;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeBuilder;
@@ -56,7 +60,9 @@
         store = new KernelNodeStore(mk);
         store.setHook(IndexHookManager.of(new Property2IndexHookProvider()));
         // initialize node types & index definitions
-        new InitialContent().initialize(store);
+        OakInitializer.initialize(store, new InitialContent(),
+                CompositeIndexHookProvider
+                        .compose(new ArrayList<IndexHookProvider>()));
     }
 
     @Test
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/security/user/UserInitializer.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/security/user/UserInitializer.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/security/user/UserInitializer.java	(working copy)
@@ -23,11 +23,14 @@
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.Root;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.core.RootImpl;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.namepath.NamePathMapper;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.memory.MemoryNodeStore;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.RepositoryInitializer;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.security.SecurityProvider;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.security.user.UserConfiguration;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.security.user.UserConstants;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeState;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStore;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStoreBranch;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
@@ -61,13 +64,18 @@
 
     //----------------------------------------------< RepositoryInitializer >---
     @Override
-    public void initialize(NodeStore store) {
-        Root root = new RootImpl(store);
-
-        UserConfiguration userConfiguration = securityProvider.getUserConfiguration();
-        UserManager userManager = userConfiguration.getUserManager(root, NamePathMapper.DEFAULT);
+    public NodeState initialize(NodeState state) {
+        NodeStore ns = new MemoryNodeStore();
+        NodeStoreBranch branch = ns.branch();
+        branch.setRoot(state);
 
         try {
+            branch.merge();
+            Root root = new RootImpl(ns);
+
+            UserConfiguration userConfiguration = securityProvider.getUserConfiguration();
+            UserManager userManager = userConfiguration.getUserManager(root, NamePathMapper.DEFAULT);
+
             boolean modified = false;
             String adminId = userConfiguration.getConfigurationParameters().getConfigValue(PARAM_ADMIN_ID, DEFAULT_ADMIN_ID);
             if (userManager.getAuthorizable(adminId) == null) {
@@ -90,5 +98,6 @@
             log.error("Failed to initialize user content ", e);
             throw new RuntimeException(e);
         }
+        return ns.getRoot();
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
Index: oak-lucene/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/lucene/util/LuceneInitializerHelper.java
===================================================================
--- oak-lucene/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/lucene/util/LuceneInitializerHelper.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-lucene/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/lucene/util/LuceneInitializerHelper.java	(working copy)
@@ -17,13 +17,11 @@
 package org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.index.lucene.util;
 
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants;
-import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.CommitFailedException;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.Type;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.commons.PathUtils;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.RepositoryInitializer;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeBuilder;
-import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStore;
-import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStoreBranch;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeState;
 
 public class LuceneInitializerHelper implements RepositoryInitializer {
 
@@ -34,11 +32,9 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void initialize(NodeStore store) {
+    public NodeState initialize(NodeState state) {
         boolean dirty = false;
-
-        NodeStoreBranch branch = store.branch();
-        NodeBuilder root = branch.getRoot().builder();
+        NodeBuilder root = state.builder();
 
         NodeBuilder index = root;
         for (String p : PathUtils.elements(path)) {
@@ -53,13 +49,8 @@
                     "oak:queryIndexDefinition", Type.NAME).setProperty("type",
                     "lucene");
             index.setProperty("reindex", true);
-            try {
-                branch.setRoot(root.getNodeState());
-                branch.merge();
-            } catch (CommitFailedException e) {
-                throw new RuntimeException(e);
-            }
+            return root.getNodeState();
         }
+        return state;
     }
-
 }
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/core/ContentRepositoryImpl.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/core/ContentRepositoryImpl.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/core/ContentRepositoryImpl.java	(working copy)
@@ -94,4 +94,8 @@
                 nodeStore, conflictHandler, indexProvider);
     }
 
+    public NodeStore getNodeStore() {
+        return nodeStore;
+    }
+
 }
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/CompositeInitializer.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/CompositeInitializer.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/CompositeInitializer.java	(working copy)
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
 
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeState;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStore;
 
 /**
@@ -41,9 +42,11 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void initialize(NodeStore store) {
+    public NodeState initialize(NodeState state) {
+        NodeState newState = state;
         for (RepositoryInitializer tracker : initializers) {
-            tracker.initialize(store);
+            newState = tracker.initialize(newState);
         }
+        return newState;
     }
 }
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/OakInitializer.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/OakInitializer.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/OakInitializer.java	(working copy)
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.CommitFailedException;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.index.IndexHookManager;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.index.IndexHookProvider;
-import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.memory.MemoryNodeState;
-import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeBuilder;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeState;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStore;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStoreBranch;
 
@@ -31,18 +30,12 @@
     public static void initialize(NodeStore store,
             RepositoryInitializer initializer, IndexHookProvider indexHook) {
 
-        // TODO refactor initializer to be able to first #branch, then
-        // #initialize, next #index and finally #merge
-        // This means that the RepositoryInitializer should receive a
-        // NodeStoreBranch as a param
-
-        initializer.initialize(store);
-
         NodeStoreBranch branch = store.branch();
-        NodeBuilder root = branch.getRoot().builder();
+        NodeState before = branch.getRoot();
+        NodeState after = initializer.initialize(before);
         try {
-            branch.setRoot(IndexHookManager.of(indexHook).processCommit(
-                    MemoryNodeState.EMPTY_NODE, root.getNodeState()));
+            branch.setRoot(IndexHookManager.of(indexHook).processCommit(before,
+                    after));
             branch.merge();
         } catch (CommitFailedException e) {
             throw new RuntimeException(e);
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/RepositoryInitializer.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/RepositoryInitializer.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/spi/lifecycle/RepositoryInitializer.java	(working copy)
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle;
 
-import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStore;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeState;
 
 /**
  * Initializer of repository content. A component that needs to add specific
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@
      * have been initialized, so the implementation of this method should
      * check for that before blindly adding new content.
      *
-     * @param store node store of the repository
+     * @param state the current state of the repository
      */
-    public void initialize(NodeStore store);
+    NodeState initialize(NodeState state);
 
 }
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/nodetype/write/InitialContent.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/nodetype/write/InitialContent.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/nodetype/write/InitialContent.java	(working copy)
@@ -16,26 +16,28 @@
  */
 package org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.nodetype.write;
 
+import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.JCR_MIXINTYPES;
+import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.JCR_PRIMARYTYPE;
+import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.JCR_SYSTEM;
+import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.JCR_VERSIONSTORAGE;
+import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.NT_UNSTRUCTURED;
+
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Component;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Service;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.CommitFailedException;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.Type;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.core.RootImpl;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.memory.MemoryNodeStore;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.memory.PropertyStates;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.RepositoryInitializer;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.security.user.UserConstants;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeBuilder;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeState;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStore;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStoreBranch;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 
-import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.JCR_MIXINTYPES;
-import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.JCR_PRIMARYTYPE;
-import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.JCR_SYSTEM;
-import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.JCR_VERSIONSTORAGE;
-import static org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants.NT_UNSTRUCTURED;
-
 /**
  * {@code InitialContent} implements a {@link RepositoryInitializer} and
  * registers built-in node types when the micro kernel becomes available.
@@ -45,10 +47,8 @@
 public class InitialContent implements RepositoryInitializer {
 
     @Override
-    public void initialize(NodeStore store) {
-        NodeStoreBranch branch = store.branch();
-
-        NodeBuilder root = branch.getRoot().builder();
+    public NodeState initialize(NodeState state) {
+        NodeBuilder root = state.builder();
         root.setProperty(JCR_PRIMARYTYPE, "rep:root", Type.NAME);
 
         if (!root.hasChildNode(JCR_SYSTEM)) {
@@ -100,14 +100,17 @@
                 .setProperty("propertyNames", UserConstants.REP_MEMBERS)
                 .setProperty("reindex", true);
         }
+
+        NodeStore ns = new MemoryNodeStore();
+        NodeStoreBranch branch = ns.branch();
+        branch.setRoot(root.getNodeState());
         try {
-            branch.setRoot(root.getNodeState());
             branch.merge();
+            BuiltInNodeTypes.register(new RootImpl(ns));
+            return ns.getRoot();
         } catch (CommitFailedException e) {
-            throw new RuntimeException(e); // TODO: shouldn't need the wrapper
+            throw new RuntimeException(e);
         }
-
-        BuiltInNodeTypes.register(new RootImpl(store));
     }
 
 }
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/security/privilege/PrivilegeInitializer.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/security/privilege/PrivilegeInitializer.java	(revision 1436554)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/security/privilege/PrivilegeInitializer.java	(working copy)
@@ -19,22 +19,26 @@
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
+
 import javax.jcr.RepositoryException;
 
-import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.JcrConstants;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.CommitFailedException;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.api.Type;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.core.RootImpl;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.memory.MemoryNodeStore;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.plugins.nodetype.NodeTypeConstants;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.lifecycle.RepositoryInitializer;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.security.privilege.PrivilegeDefinition;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeBuilder;
+import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeState;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStore;
 import org.apache.jackrabbit.oak.spi.state.NodeStoreBranch;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;
+
 /**
  * {@code RepositoryInitializer} that asserts the existence and node type of
  * the /jcr:system/jcr:privileges node that is used to store privilege definitions.
@@ -64,10 +68,8 @@
             REP_WRITE, new String[] {JCR_WRITE, JCR_NODE_TYPE_MANAGEMENT});
 
     @Override
-    public void initialize(NodeStore store) {
-        NodeStoreBranch branch = store.branch();
-
-        NodeBuilder root = branch.getRoot().builder();
+    public NodeState initialize(NodeState state) {
+        NodeBuilder root = state.builder();
         NodeBuilder system = root.child(JcrConstants.JCR_SYSTEM);
         system.setProperty(JcrConstants.JCR_PRIMARYTYPE, NodeTypeConstants.NT_REP_SYSTEM, Type.NAME);
 
@@ -75,22 +77,23 @@
             NodeBuilder privileges = system.child(REP_PRIVILEGES);
             privileges.setProperty(JcrConstants.JCR_PRIMARYTYPE, NT_REP_PRIVILEGES, Type.NAME);
 
+            NodeStore ns = new MemoryNodeStore();
+            NodeStoreBranch branch = ns.branch();
+            branch.setRoot(root.getNodeState());
             try {
-                branch.setRoot(root.getNodeState());
                 branch.merge();
-            } catch (CommitFailedException e) {
-                log.error("Failed to initialize privilege content ", e);
-                throw new RuntimeException(e);
-            }
-
-            PrivilegeDefinitionWriter writer = new PrivilegeDefinitionWriter(new RootImpl(store));
-            try {
+                PrivilegeDefinitionWriter writer = new PrivilegeDefinitionWriter(
+                        new RootImpl(ns));
                 writer.writeDefinitions(getBuiltInDefinitions());
             } catch (RepositoryException e) {
                 log.error("Failed to register built-in privileges", e);
                 throw new RuntimeException(e);
+            } catch (CommitFailedException e) {
+                throw new RuntimeException(e);
             }
+            return ns.getRoot();
         }
+        return state;
     }
 
     private Collection<PrivilegeDefinition> getBuiltInDefinitions() {
