diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 18938e36..90bbf466 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ jobs:
           run_gam create group $newgroup name "GHA $JID group" description "This is a description" isarchived true
           run_gam user $gam_user sendemail recipient dev-null@pdl.jaylee.us subject "test message $newbase" message "GHA test message"
           run_gam user $newuser add license workspaceenterpriseplus
-          run_gam update user $newuser ou /
+          run_gam update user $newuser ou root # GAM synonym for / root OU 
           run_gam update user $newuser ou "$newou"
           run_gam config enable_dasa false save
           # don't expose policy output
diff --git a/src/gam/__init__.py b/src/gam/__init__.py
index 4a2a9ccf..6c34c2b8 100755
--- a/src/gam/__init__.py
+++ b/src/gam/__init__.py
@@ -1667,6 +1667,12 @@ def encodeOrgUnitPath(path):
 def getOrgUnitItem(pathOnly=False, absolutePath=True, cd=None):
   if Cmd.ArgumentsRemaining():
     path = Cmd.Current().strip()
+    # Some shells like Bash for Windows interpret / as the filesystem root.
+    # Let user specify "root" instead to indicate /. "/root", "Root" and "ROOT"
+    # will still work for an OU actually named "root" as we are being
+    # case-sensitive here for "root" but Google is not case sensitive about OUs
+    if path == 'root':
+      path = '/'
     if path:
       if pathOnly and (path.startswith('id:') or path.startswith('uid:')) and cd is not None:
         try: