diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Chains.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Chains.pm
index 9a18d07f7..94b18f83c 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Chains.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Chains.pm
@@ -1032,6 +1032,8 @@ sub push_irule( $$$;@ ) {
 	$ruleref->{jump}       = $jump;
 	$ruleref->{target}     = $target;
 	$ruleref->{targetopts} = $targetopts if $targetopts;
+    } else {
+	$ruleref->{target} = '';
     }
 
     if ( $comment ) {