diff --git a/src/args.rs b/src/args.rs
index bf33d1f..7cd890f 100644
--- a/src/args.rs
+++ b/src/args.rs
@@ -66,10 +66,6 @@ pub struct ChrootCommand {
     #[structopt(parse(from_os_str))]
     pub block_device: PathBuf,
 
-    /// Open an encrypted root partition
-    #[structopt(short = "e", long = "encrypted-root")]
-    pub encrypted_root: bool,
-
     /// Optional command to run
     #[structopt()]
     pub command: Vec<String>,
diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
index 2df89e8..7b110bc 100644
--- a/src/error.rs
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ pub enum ErrorKind {
     #[fail(display = "Error closing the encrypted device")]
     LuksClose,
 
+    #[fail(display = "Error detecting whether the root partition is an encrypted device")]
+    LuksDetection,
+
     #[fail(display = "Error setting the locale")]
     Locale,
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 839e117..630e4cc 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -324,11 +324,7 @@ fn create(command: CreateCommand) -> Result<(), Error> {
 
 fn chroot(command: ChrootCommand) -> Result<(), Error> {
     let arch_chroot = Tool::find("arch-chroot")?;
-    let cryptsetup = if command.encrypted_root {
-        Some(Tool::find("cryptsetup")?)
-    } else {
-        None
-    };
+    let mut cryptsetup;
 
     let mut loop_device: Option<LoopDevice>;
     let storage_device = match storage::StorageDevice::from_path(&command.block_device) {
@@ -344,9 +340,10 @@ fn chroot(command: ChrootCommand) -> Result<(), Error> {
     let boot_filesystem = Filesystem::from_partition(&boot_partition, FilesystemType::Vfat);
 
     let root_partition_base = storage_device.get_partition(ROOT_PARTITION_INDEX)?;
-    let encrypted_root = if let Some(cryptsetup) = &cryptsetup {
+    let encrypted_root = if is_encrypted_device(&root_partition_base)? {
+        cryptsetup = Some(Tool::find("cryptsetup")?);
         Some(EncryptedDevice::open(
-            cryptsetup,
+            cryptsetup.as_ref().unwrap(),
             &root_partition_base,
             "alma_root".into(),
         )?)
diff --git a/src/storage/crypt.rs b/src/storage/crypt.rs
index 3270b00..11d5f41 100644
--- a/src/storage/crypt.rs
+++ b/src/storage/crypt.rs
@@ -2,10 +2,16 @@ use super::markers::BlockDevice;
 use crate::error::{Error, ErrorKind};
 use crate::process::CommandExt;
 use crate::tool::Tool;
+use failure::ResultExt;
 use log::{debug, warn};
+use std::fs;
+use std::io::Read;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
+static LUKS_MAGIC_1: &'static [u8] = &[0x4c, 0x55, 0x4b, 0x53, 0xba, 0xbe];
+static LUKS_MAGIC_2: &'static [u8] = &[0x53, 0x4b, 0x55, 0x4c, 0xba, 0xbe];
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct EncryptedDevice<'t, 'o> {
     cryptsetup: &'t Tool,
@@ -78,3 +84,17 @@ impl<'t, 'o> BlockDevice for EncryptedDevice<'t, 'o> {
         &self.path
     }
 }
+
+pub fn is_encrypted_device(device: &BlockDevice) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+    let mut f = fs::OpenOptions::new()
+        .read(true)
+        .write(false)
+        .open(device.path())
+        .context(ErrorKind::LuksDetection)?;
+
+    let mut buffer = [0; 6];
+    f.read_exact(&mut buffer)
+        .context(ErrorKind::LuksDetection)?;
+
+    Ok(buffer == LUKS_MAGIC_1 || buffer == LUKS_MAGIC_2)
+}
diff --git a/src/storage/mod.rs b/src/storage/mod.rs
index 3f38d0b..983d5ab 100644
--- a/src/storage/mod.rs
+++ b/src/storage/mod.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ mod mount_stack;
 mod partition;
 mod storage_device;
 
-pub use crypt::EncryptedDevice;
+pub use crypt::{is_encrypted_device, EncryptedDevice};
 pub use filesystem::{Filesystem, FilesystemType};
 pub use loop_device::LoopDevice;
 pub use markers::BlockDevice;