diff --git a/Shorewall-core/lib.cli b/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
index 28900709a..6b7ad6e5a 100644
--- a/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
+++ b/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
@@ -367,6 +367,17 @@ resolve_arptables() {
     esac
 }
 
+#
+# Try to run the 'savesets' command
+#
+savesets() {
+    local supported
+
+    supported=$(run_it ${VARDIR}/firewall help | fgrep savesets )
+
+    [ -n "$supported" ] && run_it ${VARDIR}/firewall savesets ${g_restorepath}-ipsets
+}
+
 #
 # Save currently running configuration
 #
@@ -428,7 +439,7 @@ do_save() {
 	    ;;
     esac
 
-    if ! run_it ${VARDIR}/firewall savesets ${g_restorepath}-ipsets; then
+    if ! savesets;  then
 	case ${SAVE_IPSETS:=No} in
 	    [Yy]es)
 		case ${IPSET:=ipset} in