diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
index 0c619afd1..4e7330b01 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
@@ -1129,6 +1129,9 @@ sub process_rule1 ( $$$$$$$$$$$$$ ) {
 	}
 
 	$chain    = rules_chain( ${sourcezone}, ${destzone} );
+	#
+	# Ensure that the chain exists but don't mark it as referenced until after optimization is checked
+	#
 	$chainref = ensure_chain 'filter', $chain;
 	$policy   = $chainref->{policy};