diff --git a/Shorewall-lite/shorewall-lite.service.debian b/Shorewall-lite/shorewall-lite.service.debian
index 86f20910a..8d0755379 100644
--- a/Shorewall-lite/shorewall-lite.service.debian
+++ b/Shorewall-lite/shorewall-lite.service.debian
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ RemainAfterExit=yes
 EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/shorewall-lite
 StandardOutput=syslog
 ExecStart=/sbin/shorewall-lite $OPTIONS start $STARTOPTIONS
-ExecStop=/sbin/shorewall-lite $OPTIONS stop
+ExecStop=/sbin/shorewall-lite $OPTIONS clear
 ExecReload=/sbin/shorewall-lite $OPTIONS reload $RELOADOPTIONS
 
 [Install]
diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
index d1e27dacf..74cd3ca95 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
@@ -1735,12 +1735,12 @@ sub process_action(\$\$$) {
 
     progress_message2 "$doing $actionfile for chain $chainref->{name}...";
 
-    push_open $actionfile, 2, 1, undef, 2;
-
     my $oldparms = push_action_params( $action, $chainref, $param, $level, $tag, $caller );
     my $options = $actionref->{options};
     my $nolog = $options & ( NOLOG_OPT | LOGJUMP_OPT );
 
+    push_open $actionfile, 2, 1, undef, 2;
+
     setup_audit_action( $action ) if $options & AUDIT_OPT;
 
     $active{$action}++;
diff --git a/Shorewall/shorewall.service.debian b/Shorewall/shorewall.service.debian
index ec250ef1f..eadfb2a9e 100644
--- a/Shorewall/shorewall.service.debian
+++ b/Shorewall/shorewall.service.debian
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ RemainAfterExit=yes
 EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/shorewall
 StandardOutput=syslog
 ExecStart=/sbin/shorewall $OPTIONS start $STARTOPTIONS
-ExecStop=/sbin/shorewall $OPTIONS stop
+ExecStop=/sbin/shorewall $OPTIONS clear
 ExecReload=/sbin/shorewall $OPTIONS reload $RELOADOPTIONS
 
 [Install]
diff --git a/Shorewall6-lite/shorewall6-lite.service.debian b/Shorewall6-lite/shorewall6-lite.service.debian
index f91346333..e4f32c90d 100644
--- a/Shorewall6-lite/shorewall6-lite.service.debian
+++ b/Shorewall6-lite/shorewall6-lite.service.debian
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ RemainAfterExit=yes
 EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/shorewall6-lite
 StandardOutput=syslog
 ExecStart=/sbin/shorewall6-lite $OPTIONS start
-ExecStop=/sbin/shorewall6-lite $OPTIONS stop
+ExecStop=/sbin/shorewall6-lite $OPTIONS clear
 ExecReload=/sbin/shorewall6-lite $OPTIONS reload
 
 [Install]
diff --git a/Shorewall6/shorewall6.service.debian b/Shorewall6/shorewall6.service.debian
index c311ed4d4..0a0f62f06 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/shorewall6.service.debian
+++ b/Shorewall6/shorewall6.service.debian
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ RemainAfterExit=yes
 EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/shorewall6
 StandardOutput=syslog
 ExecStart=/sbin/shorewall -6 $OPTIONS start $STARTOPTIONS
-ExecStop=/sbin/shorewall -6 $OPTIONS stop
+ExecStop=/sbin/shorewall -6 $OPTIONS clear
 ExecReload=/sbin/shorewall -6 $OPTIONS reload $RELOADOPTIONS
 
 [Install]