Kernel 2.4.4 and init

Hi I've compiled kernel 2.4.4 (from kernel.org sources) in my linux box (SuSE 7.1) but when I boot the new kernel it gives a kernel panic because it can not find the init and advising me to include a "init=" clause in the boot parameters. The other kernel boots without problems. What can I do ? If I include a init= in the parameters wouldn't it damage the working kernel ? EJ