diff --git a/Shorewall/lib.cli-std b/Shorewall/lib.cli-std
index 847a139b7..8bc68dd55 100644
--- a/Shorewall/lib.cli-std
+++ b/Shorewall/lib.cli-std
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ uptodate() {
     ifs="$IFS"
     IFS=':'
 
-    for dir in $CONFIG_PATH; do
+    for dir in $g_shorewalldir $CONFIG_PATH; do
 	if [ -n "$(find ${dir} -newer $1)" ]; then
 	    IFS="$ifs"
 	    return 1;
@@ -599,6 +599,7 @@ start_command() {
 compile_command() {
     local finished
     finished=0
+    local conditional
 
     while [ $finished -eq 0 ]; do
 	[ $# -eq 0 ] && break
@@ -629,6 +630,10 @@ compile_command() {
 			    g_debug=Yes;
 			    option=${option#d}
 			    ;;
+			c*)
+			    conditional=Yes;
+			    option=${option#c}
+			    ;;
 			T*)
 			    g_confess=Yes
 			    option=${option#T}
@@ -678,9 +683,14 @@ compile_command() {
 	    ;;
     esac
 
-    [ "x$file" = x- ] || progress_message3 "Compiling..."
+    if [ -n "$conditional" ] && uptodate $file; then
+	echo "$file is up to date -- no compilation required"
+	return 0
+    else
+	[ "x$file" = x- ] || progress_message3 "Compiling..."
 
-    compiler $g_debugging compile $file && run_postcompile $file
+	compiler $g_debugging compile $file && run_postcompile $file
+    fi
 }
 
 #
@@ -1579,7 +1589,7 @@ usage() # $1 = exit status
     echo "   allow <address> ..."
     echo "   check [ -e ] [ -r ] [ -p ] [ -r ] [ -T ] [ <directory> ]"
     echo "   clear"
-    echo "   compile [ -e ] [ -p ] [ -t ] [ -d ] [ -T ] [ <directory name> ] [ <path name> ]"
+    echo "   compile [ -e ] [ -p ] [ -t ] [ -c ] [ -d ] [ -T ] [ <directory name> ] [ <path name> ]"
     echo "   delete <interface>[:<host-list>] ... <zone>"
     echo "   disable <interface>"
     echo "   drop <address> ..."
diff --git a/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.xml b/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.xml
index 04a946e12..6efbcc387 100644
--- a/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.xml
+++ b/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.xml
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@
 
       <arg><option>-e</option></arg>
 
+      <arg><option>-c</option></arg>
+
       <arg><option>-d</option></arg>
 
       <arg><option>-p</option></arg>
@@ -832,8 +834,9 @@
 
         <listitem>
           <para>Compiles the current configuration into the executable file
-          <emphasis>pathname</emphasis>. If a directory is supplied, Shorewall
-          will look in that directory first for configuration files. If the
+          <emphasis>pathname</emphasis>. If a
+          <replaceable>directory</replaceable> is supplied, Shorewall will
+          look in that directory first for configuration files. If the
           <emphasis>pathname</emphasis> is omitted, the file
           <filename>firewall</filename> in the VARDIR (normally <filename
           class="directory">/var/lib/shorewall/</filename>) is assumed. A
@@ -853,6 +856,16 @@
           capabilities</emphasis> on a system with Shorewall Lite
           installed</para>
 
+          <para>The <emphasis role="bold">-c</emphasis> option was added in
+          Shorewall 4.5.17 and causes conditional compilation of a script. The
+          script specified by <replaceable>pathname</replaceable> (or implied
+          if <emphasis role="bold">pathname</emphasis> is omitted) is compiled
+          if it doesn't exist or if there is any file in the
+          <replaceable>directory</replaceable> or in a directory on the
+          CONFIG_PATH that has a modification time later than the file to be
+          compiled. When no compilation is needed, a message is issued and an
+          exit status of zero is returned.</para>
+
           <para>The <option>-d</option> option causes the compiler to be run
           under control of the Perl debugger.</para>
 
diff --git a/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.xml b/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.xml
index 3048f2fcc..53e5bded0 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.xml
+++ b/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.xml
@@ -762,7 +762,17 @@
           which may be produced using the command <emphasis
           role="bold">shorewall6-lite show -f capabilities &gt;
           capabilities</emphasis> on a system with Shorewall6 Lite
-          installed</para>
+          installed.</para>
+
+          <para>The <emphasis role="bold">-c</emphasis> option was added in
+          Shorewall 4.5.17 and causes conditional compilation of a script. The
+          script specified by <replaceable>pathname</replaceable> (or implied
+          if <emphasis role="bold">pathname</emphasis> is omitted) is compiled
+          if it doesn't exist or if there is any file in the
+          <replaceable>directory</replaceable> or in a directory on the
+          CONFIG_PATH that has a modification time later than the file to be
+          compiled. When no compilation is needed, a message is issued and an
+          exit status of zero is returned.</para>
 
           <para>The <option>-d</option> option causes the compiler to be run
           under control of the Perl debugger.</para>