diff --git a/bin/lesson_initialize.py b/bin/lesson_initialize.py
index 537a535cb066abd520bfe5b296a5cb7db69be9dc..bce82445f5705cab104ba9e6e79024b37304c876 100755
--- a/bin/lesson_initialize.py
+++ b/bin/lesson_initialize.py
@@ -225,6 +225,8 @@ collections:
 
 # Set the default layout for things in the episodes collection.
 defaults:
+  - values:
+      root: ..
   - scope:
       path: ""
       type: episodes
@@ -243,6 +245,7 @@ highlighter: false
 ROOT_INDEX_MD = '''\
 ---
 layout: lesson
+root: .
 ---
 FIXME: home page introduction