diff --git a/Shorewall/shorewall b/Shorewall/shorewall
index b1c8a7dbf..13a4e7b31 100755
--- a/Shorewall/shorewall
+++ b/Shorewall/shorewall
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ start_command() {
 
 	    export RESTOREFILE
 
-	    if make -qf ${CONFDIR}/Makefile; then
+	    if ! make -qf ${CONFDIR}/Makefile; then
 		g_fast=
 		AUTOMAKE=
 	    fi
diff --git a/Shorewall6/shorewall6 b/Shorewall6/shorewall6
index ce2486264..d435c5a2f 100755
--- a/Shorewall6/shorewall6
+++ b/Shorewall6/shorewall6
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ start_command() {
 
 	    export RESTOREFILE
 
-	    if make -qf ${CONFDIR}/Makefile; then
+	    if ! make -qf ${CONFDIR}/Makefile; then
 		g_fast=
 		AUTOMAKE=
 	    fi