diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/prog.footer b/Shorewall/Perl/prog.footer
index 09494862b..2c1897ad8 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/prog.footer
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/prog.footer
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ fi
 initialize
 
 if [ -n "$STARTUP_LOG" ]; then
+    touch $STARTUP_LOG
+    chmod 0600 $STARTUP_LOG
     if [ ${SHOREWALL_INIT_SCRIPT:-0} -eq 1 ]; then
 	#
 	# We're being run by a startup script that isn't redirecting STDOUT
diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/prog.footer6 b/Shorewall/Perl/prog.footer6
index 2ad724998..f41bef680 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/prog.footer6
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/prog.footer6
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ fi
 initialize
 
 if [ -n "$STARTUP_LOG" ]; then
+    touch $STARTUP_LOG
+    chmod 0600 $STARTUP_LOG
     if [ ${SHOREWALL_INIT_SCRIPT:-0} -eq 1 ]; then
 	#
 	# We're being run by a startup script that isn't redirecting STDOUT