diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Config.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Config.pm
index 80648b612..3ed0b8fe7 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Config.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Config.pm
@@ -3259,9 +3259,9 @@ sub expand_variables( \$ ) {
 	fatal_error "Variable Expansion Loop" if ++$count > 100;
     }
 
-    if ( $actparms{0} ) {
+    if ( $chain ) {
 	#
-	# Allow escaping at signs (@) for u32
+	# We're in an action body -- allow escaping at signs (@) for u32
 	#
 	$$lineref =~ s/\\@/??/g;
 	#                         $1      $2   $3                     -     $4