diff --git a/icu4c/source/data/rbnf/rbnffiles.mk b/icu4c/source/data/rbnf/rbnffiles.mk
index d1305e8780a..37d1b9f4143 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/data/rbnf/rbnffiles.mk
+++ b/icu4c/source/data/rbnf/rbnffiles.mk
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
 # This is the list of locales that are built, but not considered installed in ICU.
 # These are usually aliased locales or the root locale.
-RBNF_ALIAS_SOURCE = root.txt
+RBNF_ALIAS_SOURCE = 
 
 
 # Please try to keep this list in alphabetical order