diff --git a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
index 9d9ced35d..cfe3152d3 100644
--- a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
  - fixed AddressBook feedback for missing fields.
  - fixed #11606: Syndicated Content feed returns a relative link
  - fixed #11614: Forums: Sort Fields
+ - fixed #11616: No access to /root
 
 7.9.6
  - new checkbox in the asset manager for clearing the package flag on import
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/AssetLineage.pm b/lib/WebGUI/AssetLineage.pm
index 49acf0283..8e2d699fb 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/AssetLineage.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/AssetLineage.pm
@@ -461,10 +461,6 @@ sub getLineage {
 	
     my $sql = $self->getLineageSql($relatives,$rules);
 
-    unless ($sql) {
-        return [];
-    }
-
 	my @lineage;
 	my %relativeCache;
 	my $sth = $self->session->db->read($sql);
@@ -732,7 +728,8 @@ sub getLineageSql {
 	}
 	## finish up our where clause
 	if (!scalar(@whereModifiers)) {
-        return "";
+        #Return valid SQL that will never select an asset.
+        return q|select * from asset where assetId="###---###"|;
     }
 	$where .= ' and ('.join(" or ",@whereModifiers).')';
 	if (exists $rules->{whereClause} && $rules->{whereClause}) {
diff --git a/t/Asset/AssetLineage.t b/t/Asset/AssetLineage.t
index 07f2bb999..531d82d7a 100644
--- a/t/Asset/AssetLineage.t
+++ b/t/Asset/AssetLineage.t
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use WebGUI::Session;
 use WebGUI::User;
 
 use WebGUI::Asset;
-use Test::More tests => 93; # increment this value for each test you create
+use Test::More tests => 96; # increment this value for each test you create
 use Test::Deep;
 
 # Test the methods in WebGUI::AssetLineage
@@ -445,6 +445,22 @@ cmp_bag(
     'getLineage: descendants of topFolder',
 );
 
+$ids = $root->getLineage(['ancestors']);
+cmp_deeply(
+    $ids,
+    [],
+    '... getting ancestors of root returns empty array'
+);
+
+####################################################
+#
+# getLineageSql
+#
+####################################################
+
+note "getLineageSql";
+ok $root->getLineageSql(['ancestors']), 'valid SQL returned in an error condition';
+
 ####################################################
 #
 # getLineageIterator
@@ -497,6 +513,13 @@ cmp_bag(
     'getLineageIterator: descendants of topFolder',
 );
 
+my $empty = getListFromIterator($root->getLineageIterator(['ancestors']));
+cmp_bag(
+    $empty,
+    [],
+    '... getting ancestors of root returns empty array'
+);
+
 ####################################################
 #
 # addChild