diff --git a/scripts/base/init-bare.zeek b/scripts/base/init-bare.zeek
index 3efb1180da..b408586873 100644
--- a/scripts/base/init-bare.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/init-bare.zeek
@@ -5350,7 +5350,7 @@ export {
         ## If it is not included, the identifier will attach to the "root" analyzer. The
         ## root analyzer uses the link layer identifier provided by the packet source to
         ## determine the protocol for the initial packet header.
-        parent : PacketAnalyzer::Tag &optional;
+        parent : PacketAnalyzer::Tag;
 
         ## A numeric identifier, which can be found in the packet data, that denotes the
         ## encapsulated protocol. This field is optional. If it is not included, the
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ethernet/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ethernet/main.zeek
index 9c8e3631cf..170e4a7d6e 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ethernet/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ethernet/main.zeek
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export {
 const DLT_EN10MB : count = 1;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=DLT_EN10MB, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ETHERNET),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=DLT_EN10MB, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ETHERNET),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ETHERNET, $identifier=0x8847, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_MPLS),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ETHERNET, $identifier=0x0800, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV4),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ETHERNET, $identifier=0x86DD, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV6),
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/fddi/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/fddi/main.zeek
index 229846dab6..10d885ee84 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/fddi/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/fddi/main.zeek
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@ module PacketAnalyzer::FDDI;
 const DLT_FDDI : count = 10;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=DLT_FDDI, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_FDDI),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=DLT_FDDI, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_FDDI),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_FDDI, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IP)
 };
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ieee802_11/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ieee802_11/main.zeek
index 21123cd719..292e26b34b 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ieee802_11/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ieee802_11/main.zeek
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module PacketAnalyzer::IEEE802_11;
 const DLT_IEEE802_11 : count = 105;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=DLT_IEEE802_11, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=DLT_IEEE802_11, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11, $identifier=0x0800, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV4),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11, $identifier=0x86DD, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV6),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11, $identifier=0x0806, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ARP),
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ieee802_11_radio/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ieee802_11_radio/main.zeek
index 8c369d0183..13c0cbe618 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ieee802_11_radio/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ieee802_11_radio/main.zeek
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@ const DLT_IEEE802_11_RADIO : count = 127;
 const DLT_IEEE802_11 : count = 105;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=DLT_IEEE802_11_RADIO, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11_RADIO),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=DLT_IEEE802_11_RADIO, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11_RADIO),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11_RADIO, $identifier=DLT_IEEE802_11, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IEEE802_11)
 };
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ip/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ip/main.zeek
index 4c9d2c2740..6731bddb29 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ip/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ip/main.zeek
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 module PacketAnalyzer::IP;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IP),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IP),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IP, $identifier=4, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV4),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IP, $identifier=6, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV6)
 };
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/linux_sll/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/linux_sll/main.zeek
index d5c9708556..ce693f6625 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/linux_sll/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/linux_sll/main.zeek
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module PacketAnalyzer::LINUX_SLL;
 const DLT_LINUX_SLL : count = 113;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=DLT_LINUX_SLL, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_LINUXSLL),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=DLT_LINUX_SLL, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_LINUXSLL),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_LINUXSLL, $identifier=0x0800, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV4),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_LINUXSLL, $identifier=0x86DD, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV6),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_LINUXSLL, $identifier=0x0806, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ARP),
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/nflog/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/nflog/main.zeek
index 50edf4b514..d5da9f47c8 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/nflog/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/nflog/main.zeek
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const AF_INET : count = 2;
 const AF_INET6 : count = 10;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=DLT_NFLOG, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_NFLOG),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=DLT_NFLOG, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_NFLOG),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_NFLOG, $identifier=AF_INET, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV4),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_NFLOG, $identifier=AF_INET6, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV6)
 };
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/null/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/null/main.zeek
index 9ad54c9b74..35a4258f04 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/null/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/null/main.zeek
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const AF_INET : count = 2;
 const AF_INET6 : count = 10;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=DLT_NULL, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_NULL),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=DLT_NULL, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_NULL),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_NULL, $identifier=AF_INET, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV4),
 	
 	## From the Wireshark Wiki: AF_INET6ANALYZER, unfortunately, has different values in
diff --git a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ppp_serial/main.zeek b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ppp_serial/main.zeek
index 839e19c1d4..75d97706fe 100644
--- a/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ppp_serial/main.zeek
+++ b/scripts/base/packet-protocols/ppp_serial/main.zeek
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module PacketAnalyzer::PPP_SERIAL;
 const DLT_PPP_SERIAL : count = 50;
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=DLT_PPP_SERIAL, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_PPPSERIAL),
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=DLT_PPP_SERIAL, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_PPPSERIAL),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_PPPSERIAL, $identifier=0x0281, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_MPLS),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_PPPSERIAL, $identifier=0x0021, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV4),
 	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_PPPSERIAL, $identifier=0x0057, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_IPV6)
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/Analyzer.cc b/src/packet_analysis/Analyzer.cc
index 5dcb9a900e..bec54918eb 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/Analyzer.cc
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/Analyzer.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 #include "Analyzer.h"
 
+#include "DebugLogger.h"
+
 namespace zeek::packet_analysis {
 
 Analyzer::Analyzer(std::string name)
@@ -88,4 +90,12 @@ bool Analyzer::ForwardPacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet) co
 	return true;
 	}
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+void Analyzer::DumpDebug() const
+	{
+#ifdef DEBUG
+	DBG_LOG(DBG_PACKET_ANALYSIS, "Debug info for %s", this->GetAnalyzerName());
+	dispatcher.DumpDebug();
+#endif
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/Analyzer.h b/src/packet_analysis/Analyzer.h
index 8faaeab169..e2ae7e76f4 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/Analyzer.h
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/Analyzer.h
@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ public:
 	virtual bool AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data,
 			Packet* packet) = 0;
 
+	/**
+	 * Dumps out debug information to the \c analyzer debug stream.
+	 */
+	void DumpDebug() const;
+
 protected:
 	friend class Manager;
 
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/Manager.cc b/src/packet_analysis/Manager.cc
index 0d71632574..5a7251d8ad 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/Manager.cc
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/Manager.cc
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ void Manager::InitPostScript()
 		//TODO: Make that field a string for usability reasons
 		//TODO: Check error handling when fields are omitted
 		auto& parent_val = rv->GetField("parent");
-		std::string parent_name = parent_val ? Lookup(parent_val->AsEnumVal())->Name() : "ROOT";
+		std::string parent_name = Lookup(parent_val->AsEnumVal())->Name();
 		auto& identifier_val = rv->GetField("identifier");
 		auto analyzer_tag = rv->GetField("analyzer")->AsEnumVal();
 		auto analyzer_name = Lookup(analyzer_tag)->Name();
@@ -49,15 +49,6 @@ void Manager::InitPostScript()
 			}
 		auto& analyzer = analyzer_it->second;
 
-		if ( parent_name == "ROOT" )
-			{
-			if ( identifier_val )
-				root_dispatcher.Register(identifier_val->AsCount(), analyzer);
-			else
-				default_analyzer = analyzer;
-			continue;
-			}
-
 		auto parent_analyzer_it = analyzers.find(parent_name);
 		if ( parent_analyzer_it == analyzers.end() )
 			{
@@ -75,6 +66,8 @@ void Manager::InitPostScript()
 	// Initialize all analyzers
 	for ( auto& [name, analyzer] : analyzers )
 		analyzer->Initialize();
+
+	root_analyzer = analyzers["Root"];
 	}
 
 void Manager::Done()
@@ -91,7 +84,7 @@ void Manager::DumpDebug()
 		}
 
 	DBG_LOG(DBG_PACKET_ANALYSIS, "Root dispatcher:");
-	root_dispatcher.DumpDebug();
+	root_analyzer->DumpDebug();
 #endif
 	}
 
@@ -120,15 +113,7 @@ void Manager::ProcessPacket(Packet* packet)
 	DBG_LOG(DBG_PACKET_ANALYSIS, "Analyzing packet %ld, ts=%.3f...", ++counter, packet->time);
 #endif
 	// Start packet analysis
-	auto root_analyzer = root_dispatcher.Lookup(packet->link_type);
-	auto analyzer = root_analyzer ? root_analyzer : default_analyzer;
-	if ( !analyzer )
-		{
-		reporter->InternalWarning("No analyzer for link type %#x", packet->link_type);
-		return;
-		}
-
-	if ( ! analyzer->AnalyzePacket(packet->cap_len, packet->data, packet) )
+	if ( ! root_analyzer->ForwardPacket(packet->cap_len, packet->data, packet, packet->link_type) )
 		packet->InvalidateLayer2();
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/Manager.h b/src/packet_analysis/Manager.h
index f13feaa590..7030c8fc05 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/Manager.h
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/Manager.h
@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@ private:
 	AnalyzerPtr InstantiateAnalyzer(const std::string& name);
 
 	std::map<std::string, AnalyzerPtr> analyzers;
-	Dispatcher root_dispatcher;
-	AnalyzerPtr default_analyzer = nullptr;
+	AnalyzerPtr root_analyzer = nullptr;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/CMakeLists.txt b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/CMakeLists.txt
index c7228c2123..10103d7dca 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+add_subdirectory(root)
 add_subdirectory(skip)
 
 add_subdirectory(null)
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/ip/Plugin.cc b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/ip/Plugin.cc
index 5645220677..c24a880c60 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/ip/Plugin.cc
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/ip/Plugin.cc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "plugin/Plugin.h"
 #include "packet_analysis/Component.h"
 
-namespace zeek::plugin::Zeek_Default {
+namespace zeek::plugin::Zeek_IP {
 
 class Plugin : public zeek::plugin::Plugin {
 public:
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/CMakeLists.txt b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3ea75189f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+
+include(ZeekPlugin)
+
+include_directories(BEFORE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
+
+zeek_plugin_begin(PacketAnalyzer Root)
+zeek_plugin_cc(Root.cc Plugin.cc)
+zeek_plugin_end()
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Plugin.cc b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Plugin.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1d3432b627
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Plugin.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
+
+#include "Root.h"
+#include "plugin/Plugin.h"
+#include "packet_analysis/Component.h"
+
+namespace zeek::plugin::Zeek_Root {
+
+class Plugin : public zeek::plugin::Plugin {
+public:
+	zeek::plugin::Configuration Configure()
+		{
+		AddComponent(new zeek::packet_analysis::Component("Root",
+		                 zeek::packet_analysis::Root::RootAnalyzer::Instantiate));
+
+		zeek::plugin::Configuration config;
+		config.name = "Zeek::Root";
+		config.description = "Root packet analyzer";
+		return config;
+		}
+
+} plugin;
+
+}
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Root.cc b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Root.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aae58e8054
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Root.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
+
+#include "Root.h"
+#include "NetVar.h"
+
+using namespace zeek::packet_analysis::Root;
+
+RootAnalyzer::RootAnalyzer()
+	: zeek::packet_analysis::Analyzer("Root")
+	{
+	}
+
+bool RootAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
+	{
+	reporter->InternalError("AnalysisPacket() was called for the root analyzer.");
+	}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Root.h b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Root.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fc1543bbb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/root/Root.h
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+// See the file "COPYING" in the main distribution directory for copyright.
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <packet_analysis/Analyzer.h>
+#include <packet_analysis/Component.h>
+
+namespace zeek::packet_analysis::Root {
+
+class RootAnalyzer : public Analyzer {
+public:
+	RootAnalyzer();
+	~RootAnalyzer() override = default;
+
+	bool AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet) override;
+
+	static zeek::packet_analysis::AnalyzerPtr Instantiate()
+		{
+		return std::make_shared<RootAnalyzer>();
+		}
+};
+
+}
diff --git a/testing/btest/core/skip_analyzer.zeek b/testing/btest/core/skip_analyzer.zeek
index 70018e6aeb..ed0b6d587f 100644
--- a/testing/btest/core/skip_analyzer.zeek
+++ b/testing/btest/core/skip_analyzer.zeek
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 @load base/frameworks/tunnels
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::config_map += {
-	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($identifier=1, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_SKIP)
+	PacketAnalyzer::ConfigEntry($parent=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_ROOT, $identifier=1, $analyzer=PacketAnalyzer::ANALYZER_SKIP)
 };
 
 redef PacketAnalyzer::SkipAnalyzer::skip_bytes: count = 38;