Gnome-panel crash if root home dir is changed

["Johnson, Jeffreyx L" <jeffreyx.l.johnson@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hey friends,

Upon changing the home directory of root to / (via /etc/passwd)(these
are test machines) root's gnome-panel crashes and will not start up.  

I checked the gnome bug log and cant find any info.  Any one have any
idea? 

Thanks,
-jeff