diff --git a/Shorewall/shorewall b/Shorewall/shorewall
index c6d8b8229..348b56a68 100755
--- a/Shorewall/shorewall
+++ b/Shorewall/shorewall
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ get_config() {
     ensure_config_path
 
     if [ "$1" = Yes ]; then
+	[ -n "${IP:=ip}" ]
+
 	params=$(find_file params)
 
 	if [ -f $params ]; then
diff --git a/Shorewall6/shorewall6 b/Shorewall6/shorewall6
index 1d61cc0d6..6f9b371c7 100755
--- a/Shorewall6/shorewall6
+++ b/Shorewall6/shorewall6
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ get_config() {
     ensure_config_path
 
     if [ "$1" = Yes ]; then
+	[ -n "${IP:=ip}" ]
+
 	params=$(find_file params)
 
 	if [ -f $params ]; then