It can't work - there is no /rw mounted at this VM startup stage.
@@ -72,6 +72,4 @@ if [ -n "$debug_mode" -a "$debug_mode" -gt 0 ]; then
echo "GUI_OPTS=-vv" >> /var/run/qubes-service-environment
fi
-[ -x /rw/config/rc.local-early ] && /rw/config/rc.local-early
-
exit 0