diff --git a/Shorewall2/firewall b/Shorewall2/firewall
index 4b9795d68..a99b8e7db 100755
--- a/Shorewall2/firewall
+++ b/Shorewall2/firewall
@@ -5740,6 +5740,7 @@ do_initialize() {
 
     run_user_exit params
 
+    [ -n "$SHOREWALL_DIR" ] && CONFIG_PATH=$SHOREWALL_DIR:$CONFIG_PATH
     [ -n "$SHOREWALL_DIR" ] && CONFIG_PATH=$SHOREWALL_DIR:$CONFIG_PATH
 
     config=$(find_file shorewall.conf)