diff --git a/Shorewall-core/lib.cli b/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
index 9c6c945df..ced2a3d6a 100644
--- a/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
+++ b/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
@@ -4035,10 +4035,6 @@ shorewall_cli() {
 
     [ -n "${VARDIR:=/var/lib/$g_program}" ]
 
-    if [ ! -f ${VARDIR}/firewall ]; then
-	[ -f ${VARDIR}/.restore ] && cp -f ${VARDIR}/.restore ${VARDIR}/firewall
-    fi
-
     g_firewall=${VARDIR}/firewall
 
     version_file=${g_sharedir}/version